3 booked for dumping waste in Sidhwan canal

Ludhiana: Amid the growing clamour for action against those throwing garbage in Sidhwan Canal, the irrigation department has got three cases registered against litterbugs.
The step has been welcomed by Lets Clean Ludhiana Foundation, that spearheaded the TOI’s campaign on Sidhwan Canal.
Acting on the complaints by executive engineer of irrigation department for Sidhwan canal, Ludhiana police on Friday registered two cases under Section 70 of Northern India Canals and Drainages Act 1873.
In the first case, Model Town police booked Manoj Sharma for allegedly throwing garbage in the canal in the Pakhowal road area on December 7 last year. Police officials said in the second such case, Dugri police booked Mike Ranjan of New Janta Nagar after a team of irrigation department on a patrolling duty on Sidhwan canal found him throwing garbage in the canal on November 23 last year.
Ludhiana police officials said on Saturday, one more case was registered against a person for polluting the water body by throwing garbage in the canal near MC zone D office under the Northern India Canals and Drainages Act, 1873 and Section 3 of Public Property (Prevention of Damages) Act.
Executive engineer, irrigation department, Sandeep Mangat said such a drive will continue in the future. He added that they have a team of baildars and other officials who carry out checking along the canal.
Irrigation department officials said these cases might act as a deterrent for people against polluting the water body.
Meanwhile, Lets Clean Ludhiana Foundation (LCLF) termed registration of cases as a good initiative. LCLF member Dr Amandeep Singh Bains, who along with few other activists had filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the issue, said registration of cases is a welcome step and can act as a restraint for people habitual of throwing garbage in the canal.
LCLF chairman Mridula Jain also appreciated the efforts of the department and requested people to work for a ‘clean’ Sidhwan Canal.
Ludhiana DC Surabhi Malik during a visit to Dugri canal bridge on Friday had appealed to residents to stop dumping waste in Sidhwan canal. She had said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had taken strict note of pollution in water bodies in the past. The MC and irrigation department will be forced to take strict action against the violators, if they continued to dump waste in the canal.