Ludhiana (Gurpreet Singh): The arrival of the southwest monsoon in Ludhiana prompted an immediate response from the civic administration, with Mayor Inderjit Kaur carrying out surprise inspections of key pumping stations shortly after heavy rain lashed the city in the early hours of Thursday.
With showers beginning around 1 am, concerns over waterlogging emerged across several parts of the city. Barely an hour later, the Mayor visited multiple drainage facilities to assess their preparedness and ensure uninterrupted functioning of the city’s water disposal system.
The inspection commenced at the Tibba Road pumping station, where officials briefed the Mayor on the functioning of pumping equipment. She later reviewed the water flow in the Buddha Dariya near the GT Road bridge before moving to the pumping station at Madhopuri and the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on Tajpur Road.
During the inspection, the Mayor instructed officials to keep all pumping stations operational throughout the monsoon season so that rainwater could be drained without delay. She emphasised that emergency equipment, including generator sets, must remain fully functional to prevent disruptions in case of power outages.
The unexpected midnight visit caught several on-duty employees by surprise. Officials informed the Mayor that pumps were operating continuously and sewage was being diverted to treatment plants as planned. They also confirmed that backup power arrangements had been made at every major pumping station.
Highlighting the importance of on-ground monitoring, the Mayor stressed that effective flood management requires officials to remain present in the field rather than relying solely on office-based supervision. She directed engineering teams to stay alert during every spell of rainfall and respond swiftly to complaints of water accumulation.
Ludhiana currently depends on its sewerage network for rainwater disposal, as the city does not have a separate storm-water drainage system. This makes the uninterrupted functioning of pumping stations critical during heavy rainfall.
Separately, Municipal Commissioner Ojasvi Alankar reviewed the city’s monsoon preparedness and instructed civic officials to intensify desilting operations, clean drains and maintain sewer lines to ensure smooth water flow. He also directed field officers to monitor vulnerable locations during rainfall and personally supervise drainage operations wherever required.
The Commissioner further ordered the immediate replacement of damaged or missing manhole covers and drain grates to minimise the risk of accidents during waterlogging. Officials have also been asked to stock adequate sandbags along vulnerable stretches of the Buddha Dariya as a precaution against any emergency during the rainy season.
With the monsoon now active over the region, the municipal administration has stepped up surveillance of critical infrastructure in an effort to minimise flooding and keep civic services running smoothly.
