Drains choked, rain pours misery on Fatehgarh Sahib, Sirhind areas

Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 6

A brief spell of rain threw normal life out of gear in Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib town as rainwater entered houses not only in low-lying areas but almost every nook and corner of the town, exposing the tall claims of the Municipal Council.

Panic-stricken residents alleged that the civic authorities failed to address the problem as the drainage system was completely choked, flooding lanes and houses.

However, Ashok Sood, president, Municipal Council Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, claimed that the responsibility of sewerage and drainage systems rested with the Punjab State Water Supply and Sewerage Board. He said the council had purchased a machine at the cost of Rs 55 lakh and a resolution was passed to offer it to the board for cleaning drains and sewer lines before the onset of monsoon. He said the XEN and the SDO of the board were informed about the machine and asked to get the cleaning job done but to no avail.

Notably, the contract for maintenance of sewers was allotted to GDCL, a Noida-based company, and it further engaged a private contractor for the job. The private contractor has hired only 15 to 20 workers for the cleaning of sewer lines of the entire town. The manpower is too less for the work.

No board official was available for comments in spite of repeated calls.