Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 11

Several wards of the North and East Amritsar Assembly constituencies have been complaining of faulty sewerage system. At times, the potable water being supplied in the area is also contaminated with sewage.

In view of this, Mayor Karamjit Singh visited the Ward number 13, 15, 19 of the North constituency and Ward number 23, 24, 25 of the East constituency along with the officials of the Municipal Corporation.

The Mayor reviewed the sewerage lines laid under theJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project. During this, it was found that a temporary wall made by the Sewerage Board behind the Celebration Resort located at Majitha-Verka bypass under the JICA project, was not removed even after the completion of the project. Due to this, silt got accumulated in the main sewer line and main sewerage chamber was also broken. This led to choking of sewer lines in the entire area.

Mayor Karamjit Singh instructed the municipal officials to clean the sewers and make a new sewerage chamber and immediately install a super-sucker machine and clean the line. He was instructed to fix responsibility of the firm for the poor sewerage system handed over to the MC under the JICA project.

During inspection, it was found that the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) had started dumping sewer water into this sewage line during construction work at the focal point sewer line. Apart from this, the industrial waste from factories located on Valla-Verka bypass was also discharged into the MC’s sewer line. It is a clear violation of the National Green Tribunal and Punjab Pollution Control Board.

In view of all these shortcomings, Mayor Karamjit Singh, taking strong cognizance and directed the corporation officials to issue legal notices to the owners of these factories. He also issued instructions to stop dumping industrial waste in sewer lines.

He said since the rainy season was approaching, regular cleaning of the sewer lines should be carried out so that people do not face any problem. The Mayor said the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar was distilling sewerage lines throughout the city, keeping in view the upcoming rainy season.