Sewage all over streets, town residents demand action

The streets of Samrala are filled with foul-smelling sewage water. Fed up with the municipal council’s callous attitude, the residents have planned a joint protest against the deplorable condition and the council’s casual response.

The residents rue that the council has never paid any heed to their entreaties. “We have repeatedly informed them about the severe water accumulation problem. The outlet in some wards is completely blocked, leaving foul-smelling sewer water lingering around our homes and creating obstacles for the residents,” shared the residents.

“The conditions under which the residents of the town are forced to live are pitiable. We have lost all hope in the council, which has promised several times that the sewer system would be fully functional within a short period, but nothing has changed,” the residents complain.

Mandeep Singh Riat, a resident, said, “The residents of some specific wards are the worst sufferers. Only they can describe the true nightmare, as they have been enduring these conditions for years. The sewer accumulates, is evacuated, and then gathers again, causing frustration among the residents and visitors,” he added.

Karamjeet Singh, another resident, expressed concern, saying, “Given these deplorable conditions, an epidemic is not far off. The garbage, waste and sullage get trapped in small drains that overflow quickly, turning the streets into pools of filthy water. Even a small shower is enough to cause this waste to spill into homes.”

“We are completely deprived of essential facilities necessary for our very sustenance. The sewer treatment plant is functional and the treated water is used by farmers in their fields, with surplus water drained into the syphon of Dhande village. But despite the plant’s operation, the residents remain dissatisfied because the plant is either half-heartedly installed in some areas or doesn’t exist at all,” said Gurpreet Singh.

When contacted, the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council of Samrala, Balvir Singh Gill, said, “The sewer treatment plant is operating at full capacity, and the residents are satisfied. However, 50 per cent of the area is still to be brought under this facility. We are working on expanding it. The Water Supply Board has prepared a project report that is currently in the approval stage. Once approved, all the sewer-related issues of the residents will be resolved,” he assured.

Punjab