Sukhmeet Bhasin Bathinda, July 23 Waterlogging caused by last week’s heavy rain is wreaking havoc in the city. Rainwater not only remained accumulated on most roads of the city but also entered houses in many areas and damaged household items worth crores of rupees. Irked over the problem, city resident and social activist Sadhu Ram Kusla has decided to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Punjab & Haryana High Court demanding a CBI probe into the working of the MCB, the Sewerage Board and Triveni company as funds passed for desilting and cleaning of drains and manholes have allegedly been siphoned off, but the sewerage systems have been lying blocked for the last many years. Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Sadhu Ram Kusla said the problem of waterlogging was not due to natural reasons, but due to manmade reasons as the level of roads had been raised and plugs of sewerage were not opened. Moreover, desilting and cleaning of sewerage and sewer lines and drains had not been done for the past few years, but bills were passed. “We will demand a CBI probe into the problem and will seek compensation for the loss of public household items due to rainwater,” he said. “Besides, we are asking residents to file a complaint in the consumer forum against the district administration, the Muncicipal Corporation of Bathinda, the Sewerage Board and Triveni company. We will demand the levelling of roads properly so that rainwater is not accumulated due to wrong levelling of roads in the city,” said the social activist. Sadhu Ram Kusla said due to lack of planning, residents were badly affected by rainwater, which was accumulated on the GT road. On the other hand, no step was taken for Nai Basti residents as earlier rainwater from Nai Basti used to come and remained accumulated on the GT road. Even interlocking tiles were laid over the old interlocking tiles, raising the level of the area and leading to water accumulation in the area. Despite spending a huge amount of money on resolving the waterlogging problem in the past few years, the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda has failed to find a solution to it till date. Even half-an-hour rain is enough to inundate most city roads and low-lying areas in the absence of a proper drainage system. Residents have to wade through a mix of sewage and rainwater that remains accumulated on roads even after rain is over. The apathetic attitude of the municipal corporation raises a question mark over its working. Residents say why the MCB does not start preparing for the rainy season much in advance. Wants CBI probe into issue Sadhu Ram Kusla has said the problem of waterlogging is not due to natural reasons, but due to manmade reasons as the level of roads has been raised and plugs of sewerage have not been opened. Moreover, desilting and cleaning of sewerage and sewer lines and drains has not been done for the past few years. We will demand a CBI probe into the problem and will seek compensation for the loss of public household items due to rainwater. Besides, we are asking residents to file a complaint in the consumer forum against the district administration, the MCB, the Sewerage Board and Triveni company. We will demand the levelling of roads properly so that rainwater is not accumulated due to wrong levelling of roads in the city, says the social activist. .

Stay updated with all the Latest Bhatinda headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.