Ludhiana, May 29

The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has served notices to two illegal colonies near the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) garbage dumping site near Kakka village after samples of the groundwater had failed in quality test.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) panel led by Justice Jasbir Singh has given directions to the GLADA and the MC to act against new illegal colonies near the dumping site as the groundwater samples had failed quality test. Also, officials of the MC were directed to seize the water pumps within 2-km from the dumping site and make alternative arrangement of water supply to the residents due to contaminated groundwater.

Groundwater samples had failed quality test

The National Green Tribunal panel, led by Justice Jasbir Singh, has given directions to the GLADA and MC to act against new illegal colonies near the dumping site as the groundwater samples had failed quality test. Also, officials of the MC were directed to seize the water pumps within 2-km radius from the dumping site and make alternative arrangement of water supply to the residents due to contaminated groundwater.

GLADA SDO Ashish said they have checked the areas near the dumping site and served demolition notices against two illegal colonies. These colonies were located near the MC’s limits and after confirmation regarding the jurisdiction, notices were served to the developers concerned, he said.

Notably, some residential constructions have also taken place in the illegal colonies as the authorities concerned took no action when the illegal colonies were being developed. Besides, a number of more illegal colonies have come up just outside the MC’s jurisdiction while the developers are targeting the poor people for selling the plots in such unauthorised colonies. However, the GLADA is yet to take concrete action against the developers of such illegal colonies. — TNS