Mohali: The Permanent Lok Adalat has taken action against the ongoing civic neglect by sending notices to the Department of Local Government, the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), and the Municipal Council Kharar, instructing them to take immediate action to address the severe waterlogging and sewage overflow that are afflicting Shivalik City in Sector 127. By August 19, the court had requested a thorough action-taken report.
The orders were made in response to an application that Shivalik City residents and business owners submitted through their attorney, K.S. Rathore. According to the petition, the township was allowed to deteriorate despite being a fully constructed and approved PUDA project. This is evident in the overflowing drains, clogged sewer lines, and entirely flooded roadways after recent storms. It is practically impossible for locals, especially children and the elderly, to move about safely due to knee-deep stagnant water across the area, as seen in photos that were given to the court. The petition claims that “the conditions have made the area unliveable and pose grave risks of diseases like dengue, malaria, and skin infections,” and it accuses civic officials of failing to clean sewers or pump out floodwater with due diligence. The court noted that the accumulated floodwater should be cleared immediately, citing the “serious threat” to the citizens’ ability to live with dignity. It also noted that even temporary pumping methods might clear the area in a day or two. The court issued notices on the main and interim applications and instructed the Principal Secretary of the Local Government Department, Punjab, and the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Kharar, PUDA’s Chief Administrator, to submit their responses and activity report by August 19. The township’s interior roadways have become cesspools as a result of residents’ continuous complaints to civic authorities, which have gotten worse during the rainy season.
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