2,200 km of sewer lines across Punjab to be cleared before monsoon: Bains

Under the vision of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, we have been given a clear target, no sewage overflow anywhere in Punjab’s cities and towns, said Bains

Punjab local government minister Harjot Singh Bains on Wednesday unveiled the state’s sewerage desilting drive, announcing that 2,200 km of sewer lines and 1,400 chronic hotspots across all cities and towns will be cleared before the rainy season.

Bains said the drive covered 800 km of main trunk lines and 1,400 km of branch lines inside neighbourhoods. (HT File)

Bains said the drive covered 800 km of main trunk lines and 1,400 km of branch lines inside neighbourhoods. The department has identified 1,400 chronic hotspots where sewage overflow is reported every monsoon, according to an official statement.

“Every year, when rains come, every city and every mohalla has some points where sewage overflows. This time, under the vision of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, we have been given a clear target, no sewage overflow anywhere in Punjab’s cities and towns,” Bains stated.

Sharing the city-wise breakdown, Bains said the drive will cover 108 km of sewer lines and 47 hotspots in Jalandhar, 93 km in Patiala, 40 km and 42 hotspots in Ludhiana, 55 km and 39 hotspots in Bathinda, 36 km in Mohali, 14 km and 15 hotspots in Zirakpur, 11 km and 11 hotspots in Kharar, 7 km and 3 hotspots in Dhuri, 21 km in Kotkapura and 7 km in Nangal, where desilting is being done for the first time.

Bains said, “In Ludhiana’s Bhattian area, our team found concrete had been poured inside a sewer line from a house built nearby. That line was choked for six years, causing trouble for the entire locality. Such negligence will not be tolerated.”