Open House: What should be done to avert waterlogging, flood-like situation in Ludhiana district?

Desilting a must

The first pre-monsoon rain, which provided relief to Ludhiana residents this summer, inundated many areas. As is natural, a large amount of rain in a short period of time tends to remain on the ground rather than percolating or draining away. As a result, all of Ludhiana’s roads became flooded, causing garbage and filth to float about on foul-smelling water. The heavy flooding revealed the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation’s failure to de-silt the city’s sewerage and storm-water drainage system before the monsoon. Undoubtedly, the consequences of any rain can be severe, but the hammer of suffering always falls heavy on the underprivileged, who are forced to live in shelters without a roof over their heads. Their misery does not end there, as water takes time to recede due to the failing storm water drainage system, preventing them from leaving their shelters. The episode’s saddest and most unfortunate moment occurs when the affected families’ health deteriorates as a result of an unsanitary environment. This necessitates the administration taking pre-monsoon precautions, such as desilting the storm drainage system, to avoid waterlogging on rainy days. Similarly, all roads must be free of garbage dumps, which can impede water flow.

Novin christopher

Install check valves

A brief spell of pre-monsoon rain that lashed some parts of the city a few days ago exposed the civic body’s lofty claims about monsoon preparedness, as many city areas were flooded, sewers overflowed, and waterlogging made commuters’ lives difficult. Residents wonder what will happen as the monsoon progresses. The administration should make every effort to prevent a flood-like situation in the district. The vulnerable points along the Sutlej should be fortified, and SDMs should monitor the progress of work at these points on a daily basis to ensure that people are not inconvenienced. Open manholes and caved-in roads can cause accidents; they should be repaired immediately. Approximately 80 per cent of rainwater systems are non-functional and require immediate repair. Clean clogged drains and install new drains in all vulnerable areas to ensure proper water drainage. Install check valves in sewer traps to keep floodwater from backing up into your home’s drains. Clear your gutters and downspouts, which are important for directing water away from your home and preventing flooding and foundation damage. The MC Commissioner should discipline the underperforming officials. People should question their local MLA and councillor about this issue, and hold them accountable if a flood-like situation occurs. The flood control room should be kept operational round-the-clock to address the grievances of the public.

RS sembhi

Maintenance is key

It was disheartening to see the city’s storm water drainage system fail. Numerous drainage system, urban planning and infrastructure-related strategies can be implemented to prevent waterlogging and improve drainage. Improving drainage systems entails clearing and maintaining canals and drainage systems to keep them free of diseases and obstructions. Expansion and upgrading also play an important role in increasing capacity by enlarging drainage pipes and improving slope gradient. Along with maintaining drainage systems, urban planning and infrastructure should be advanced. This includes proper land use planning, avoiding construction in low-lying areas prone to flooding, and building flood walls and embankments to protect vulnerable areas from overflow. The implementation of a combination of these measures tailored to local conditions, as well as continuous monitoring and adaptation of strategies, can significantly reduce waterlogging and flood risks in both urban and rural areas.

Japleen Kaur

Need for better roads

If we believe that the district is our responsibility and home, we can put an end to this problem. To eliminate the threat of waterlogging, we must refrain from throwing plastics and other similar materials onto the roads, which may further clog the drainage system. To prevent stagnation, the authorities should ensure that any broken pipes are repaired as soon as possible. The city’s roads are in poor condition, which contributes to waterlogging. Massive pits on roads cause rainwater to accumulate during rainstorms. The primary focus should be on constructing passages according to well-conceived designs. The government should ensure that high-quality roads are built using graded materials that absorb rainwater and prevent waterlogging. Local governments must take steps to clean roads, streets and sewer lines on a regular basis in order to avoid water pipe blockages during the rains. Citizens must fully support the government in such a situation. Rainwater harvesting should be promoted and implemented on a large scale in order to increase groundwater levels and soil water retention capacity.

Manmeen Kaur

Build retention basins

To address waterlogging and improve the drainage system in Ludhiana, a multifaceted approach is required. First, the authorities should conduct a thorough assessment and upgrade the city’s existing drainage infrastructure to increase capacity, clean and widen old, clogged drains. Regular maintenance and desilting of storm water drains prior to the monsoon is also necessary. Authorities should install smart drainage systems with sensors to monitor water levels and predict potential blockages. This would allow for more timely interventions. Public awareness campaigns about waste disposal practices can help keep garbage from clogging drains. Additionally, they should build retention basins and detention ponds to temporarily store excess rainwater, reducing flood risks. To keep garbage from clogging drains, public awareness campaigns about proper waste disposal practices should be implemented. As a result, collaboration between the municipal corporation, environmental experts, and the community is critical to developing a sustainable and resilient drainage system in Ludhiana.

Tamanpreet Kaur Khangura

Increase green cover

We need to improve and upgrade our drainage system to handle large amounts of water. As we all know, plants, green spaces, and green roofs absorb water. Our city desperately needs more plants to that end. We should also implement additional measures such as rainwater harvesting.

Sahleen Kaur

All set to tackle flood-like situation

We have reviewed the flood protection measures with the district officials and have also visited the vulnerable spots which face possible flood threat. We have made elaborate arrangements to protect lives and properties due to any possible flood-like situation. A round-the-clock flood control room has also been made operational to take note and act on flood-like situation forthwith. — Sakshi Sawhney, Deputy Commissioner

Question

With the onset of the monsoon, the dreaded dengue fever has also started raising its head again. What should be done to check the spread of vector-borne diseases?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to ludhianadesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (July 11)