Mechanical sweeping in Ludhiana: MC's plans bite the dust

LUDHIANA: Ludhiana municipal corporation's claims of starting road clean-up exercise in the entire city using mechanical sweeping in first quarter of this year has fallen flat as officials are yet to purchase more machines for the purpose till date. They will again float tenders to start the process all over again.
Mechanical sweeping is to be introduced in the entire city as manual sweeping leads to heavy dust flow.
There was a plan to purchase four machines to cover various city roads under the National Clean Air Programme. Despite several claims, the officials could not finalise the firm from where they could get these machines for sweeping. One machine was given to the civic officials by Punjab Pollution Control Board, which is being used on a few roads.
Sources said senior authorities are not giving any direction about machines, so they will have to float the tenders again. Change in government seems to have affected the project, sources said, adding that these machines were proposed in the tenure of Congress government. As projects approved under the previous government are already under the scanner, routine approvals also take a lot of time.
A senior officer, while requesting anonymity, said tenders will be floated again and it will take some time to bring these machines on the ground.
Civic officials had reintroduced mechanical sweeping in the city in 2021 with the help of lone machine.
Mechanical sweeping has been started after getting directions from the National Green Tribunal to curb air pollution in the city. The civic body had started mechanical sweeping at night time from main roads of MC zone D like Hambran Road, PAU Road, Model Town road, Sarabha Nagar Road.
Previous attempt failed
The MC had first of all introduced mechanical sweeping in February 2016 through a private firm. Paying Rs 95,000 per km to the company, it proved to be an expensive affair for the authorities. When the Congress came to power in 2017, they cancelled the agreement with the firm.
MC house meet tomorrow
In view of repeated demands by councillors to conduct MC budget meeting, the last meeting for the current house has been scheduled for March 24. The officials have been directed to make arrangements for a house meeting. A resolution for the meeting has been distributed among the councillors and officials. The MC will propose a budget worth Rs 1,043 crore in the house meeting for approval.