Residents block traffic on

LUDHIANA, Sept 28: Irate residents today blocked vehicular traffic at Noorwala crossing near Shivpuri and Samrala Chowk on GT Road bye-pa...

LUDHIANA, Sept 28: Irate residents today blocked vehicular traffic at Noorwala crossing near Shivpuri and Samrala Chowk on GT Road bye-pass, to protest against inaction on the part of civic and district authorities after more than two dozens localities were inundated by water from Budha Nullah.

The three-hour long blockade resulted in serpentive queues of vehicles on both Ambala and Jalandhar side of the national highway. Traffic could be restored only in the afternoon when senior district and civic officials including MC Commissioner S S Sandhu assured protestors that all possible measures were being taken.

Several localities on the banks of Budha nullah were under two to three feet of muddy and stinking water since Sunday morning. With the water level further rising during the last 24 hours in some other colonies the swerage water was flowing into man holes and houses. There have been reports of damage to commercial establishments and hosiery units in these areas.

After surveying affected areas, MC Commissioner Sandhu said Budha nullah was already full due to rains and the overflow from Sutlej had resulted in spillage to adjoining colonies. Refuting allegations that timely desilting of Budha nullah was not carried out, he said the drain was mechanically desilted. But, indiscriminate encroachments on both sides of Budha nullah hindered the process. Men and machines have been now deployed in full strength and the situation would improve he claimed. Deputy Commissioner Arun Goel said teams of public health departments had been deputed to camp in affected areas and to take necessary steps to prevent outbreak of diseases.