Bhadaur House-III: Here, littered roads, insanitary conditions are commonplace

Garbage littered around, insanitary conditions and rodents rotting around, moving from one hole to another and feasting on leftovers is a common site in Bhadaur House. The rodents have caused huge damage to the flooring of the Bhadaur House market which can be seen uprooted at many places.

Adding to the woes, Ganda Nullah passes from the area, which raises stink, and the bridge built over the drain behind Hotel City Heart is in a shambles and can collapse anytime. Sewerage of the market often overflows during the monsoon season.

Worse part is that garbage, including polythene bags and plastic ropes, is set afire regularly. The burnt garbage produces toxic gases, particulate matter and ash residue, giving difficult time to the people visiting the market.

“Several requests have been made to the authorities concerned to look into the problem of poor sanitation but only little efforts had been made in this regard. Roadside vendors selling eatables often leave leftovers and waste material in the market itself. One can also notice garbage dumped in the rear of the market and it is not picked on a regular basis. Situation turns worse during the rainy season when stink emanating out of garbage makes it difficult for people to pass through the road,” said Devinder Singh, a shopkeeper.

Asha Lata, a resident residing near Bhadaur House, said it was one of the oldest areas of the city and sanitary conditions were same here for years. “Piles of garbage keep lying at the place and shopkeepers and roadside vendors are also to be blamed as they leave waste from their shops and carts on roads,” she said.

There are public washrooms in the market but their condition is pathetic. Chandan Kumar, who works at a shop, said drains in washrooms often overflow and sewage also overflows on many occasions, and visiting the market in rainy days was like a nightmare.

Aman Arora, a cloth trader from Muktsar who is a regular visitor to the market for the past many years, said he had seen Ludhiana growing in leaps and bounds but what had not changed and had only turned worse was the Bhadaur House market.

“No improvement in infrastructure has been made and the condition here is deteriorating with each passing day. I have heard a lot from my elders about the place who used to get together here after shopping at the AC market and the iconic Indian Coffee House is also located in the market. Today, one can find only garbage, filth, encroachments and traffic jam in the area,” he said.

Will ensure regular cleanliness

"I will issue instructions to ensure proper cleanliness of the place. I will go visit the place personally and see that things are in order. People visiting here from other places should return with a positive outlook about the place and I will work upon the same. Regular sweeping and cleanliness of the area will be ensured," says Madan Lal Bagga, MLA.

Efforts on to improve situation

"A cleanliness drive is being carried out in the entire city and the Bhadaur House area will also be taken care of. I will issue strict instructions to maintain cleanliness in and around the market. People should also be careful and understand that it is their moral responsibility to not to litter in the market. Officials have been directed to conduct inspections to take stock of the situation at the ground level," says Aaditya Dachalwal, MC chief.