Polluted water enters slums, residential areas; nullah flows at danger mark Harshraj Singh Ludhiana, August 20 After a sudden rise in the water level, Buddha Nullah was breached on Tajpur Road flooding the nearby slum area and streets. Besides, the nullah overflowed at Shivpuri, underpass area near Chand Cinema, Guru Nanak Colony and at other areas. The sewerage system in several areas malfunctioned due to the swollen nullah, adding to the residents’ woes. Sewage flowed back into houses at Dhoka Mohala, Fatehgarh Mohalla, Jain Colony and New Kundanpuri areas. The nullah was flowing at the danger mark. However, MC officials and staff were in the field to prevent floods. The officials claimed that flood water accumulated in the fields of Machhiwara and other areas was released into the nullah which led to a sudden rise in its water level. The sewerage treatment plant at Jamalpur stopped functioning properly due to the rising nullah. The MC has already stopped its STP at Bhattian village due to the swollen Sutlej. Nullah water entered around 100 huts located in the slum on Tajpur Road, forcing the dwellers to shift to safer places. Many of them shifted their articles to the roadside. Sunita Devi, a slum dweller, said: “We were sitting in our hut when water suddenly reached there. We could not understand what was happening. The dwellers then started vacating the area. The articles of a few dwellers were washed away.” A resident of Dhoka Mohalla, Narinder Kapur, said: “Our flooded streets are stinking as Buddha Nullah water flowed back through sewers. It is hard to breath in such unsanitary conditions.” The residents also staged a protest against the civic body. The Mayor assured them that necessary measures were being taken. Executive Engineer of Drainage Department Harjot Singh said flood water accumulated in the fields of villages in Machhiwara and other areas was released into Buddha Nullah, leading to a sudden increase in its water level. Municipal Commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and other officials were seen visiting various areas to control the situation. Sandhu said: “The nullah was breached at two locations and the damaged portions had been plugged. The slum dwellers had weakened the nullah bank which caused the breach. The staff have been deployed to remove water from the flooded streets.” “Sandbags were placed at weak points. We have deployed our staff on night duty to keep a check on the water level in the nullah.” The Deputy Commissioner, Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, has already ordered closure of the dyeing units for time being in view of the swollen Sutlej. What caused sudden rise in water level Executive Engineer of Drainage Department Harjot Singh said flood water accumulated in the fields of villages in Machhiwara and other areas was released into Buddha Nullah, leading to a sudden increase in its water level.

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