Activist files complaint about MC water tank with PSHRC

Ludhiana: Activist Arvind Sharma has filed a complaint with the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) stating that a water tank near Cheema Chowk was in a deplorable condition, and could collapse anytime. Sharma said it seemed MC officials were waiting for the tank to collapse.
There are over 40 overhead water tanks within MC limits, and half of them are in a dilapidated condition. MC officials claimed they would soon demolish such tanks. Sharma claimed these tanks were located in thickly populated areas, and if any tank collapses, there could be a major tragedy. He added that officials were not bothered about carrying out necessary repairs in the tanks, despite the fact that they were situated in heavily populated areas. He said in case the tanks could not be repaired, then they should be dismantled.
He added: “People live in nearby areas, and in the evenings, so many people visit roadside vendors to enjoy snacks. A large number of people gather in these areas, and in case a tragedy happened, then who will take responsibility?” He requested the PSHRC to take up the matter on priority.
In February, another city resident — Gursharan Singh Jassal — had complained to chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu about the lack of repairs in a few overhead water tanks, but even after that, no action was taken.
However, superintending engineer of Operation and Maintenance cell, Rajinder Singh, claimed that the water tank near Cheema Chowk would be dismantled soon, as it could not be repaired or brought to any use. He said MC had also decided to get the structural safety of the water tanks tested by outsourcing the task, but due to shortage of funds, they could not do it. The overhead water tanks were in use several years ago, but now very few are being used for storing water.