LUDHIANA: Punjab traffic adviser has written to the local bodies department, highlighting the poor storm sewer system in the city that led to waterlogging on Monday and Tuesday. In September last year, the director, local bodies, in an affidavit filed in the high court — in response to a petition filed by the traffic adviser— had submitted that only 11% of the city was covered with stormwater drains.In the letter, traffic adviser Navdeep Asija has said, “There should be special focus on decentralized solutions, like construction of percolation tanks, which will help in seepage of stormwater into the ground. This is an efficient method to deal with twin problems of flooding and groundwater depletion. Existing open spaces and water bodies like ponds should be protected as they act as natural sinks. Encroachments on them need to be removed.”“Planning of new infrastructure , including roads, should be done keeping in mind the flow of stormwater. Stormwater drain system should be a standalone network not to be connected to sewerage drains. Special attention needs to be paid to maintenance of Buddha Nullah, which is currently being used as a carrier of untreated sewage. This sullage is a major reason for high pollution of Satluj River downstream. Only treated sewage and stormwater should enter the drain. There must be promotion of porous pavements in new residential and commercial complexes,” he added in the letter.He also wrote, “In the absence of storm sewerage, rainwater gets into domestic drains, resulting in waterlogging and traffic chaos. It is dangerous to drive on such roads because of manholes and open drains. As per the ministry of road transport and highway’s report on ‘Road Accidents in India 2016’, 22 road accidents were reported in Punjab due to potholes, in which 11 persons had lost their lives and 32 were seriously injured.”A social activist from the city, Narinder Singh, said it was shameful that only 11% of Ludhiana has storm sewer system. “It becomes risky to drive on road even after a moderate rain. Besides, it increases chances of epidemic of mosquito-borne diseases,” he added.

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