Ludhiana: Arora discusses city-related key issues with MC Sandeep Rishi
Ludhiana News: MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora recently held a meeting with Sandeep Rishi, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana and discussed in detail about the works going on under the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Improvement Project (PMSIP), Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL) and Rejuvenation of Budha Dariya Project.
Giving this information here on Friday, Arora said Municipal Commissioner gave detailed presentations to him. He added Ludhiana is the most populous city of Punjab and an industrial hub of North India where the ground water table is depleting at an alarming rate. He said to cope with the same, Punjab Government envisaged a project for drinking water supply based on surface water, adding that the World Bank have funded the project.
Arora was apprised by the Municipal Commissioner about the present status of this project. He was told that SPV has been formed with Chairman as Mayor MC, Ludhiana and about 53 acres land has been purchased for Water Treatment Plant at Bilga Village. Besides, Project Management Consultants have been selected. The Project Implementing Unit (PIU) has been formed and the process for selection of Experts is in progress.
Further, Arora was apprised by Municipal Commissioner that the tender for the same have been called at the level of PMIDC. The Technical bid has been opened and four bids have been received. After evaluation of the Technical Bid two bids have been found technically qualified and a financial bid has been opened. Finally, financial bid is under process at the level of PMIDC.
Arora said the benefit of this project once completed will be that people will get good quality potable water. He added the Ground Water Table of Ludhiana will improve which is depleting at 0.5 to 1.0m per year. About 20 lakh population will benefit from the project. He hoped that people would get respite from the heavy metals and radioactive elements present in the ground water. As a result, the health status of Ludhiana residents will improve.
MC also assured Arora that Focal Point (Phases 1-3) will have relayed roads at the earliest possible Work is expected to start within this month.
Regarding Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL), Arora was apprised by Municipal Commissioner that a total funds worth Rs.889.25 Crore have been received. The share of Government of India (GoI) and State Government is Rs.441 Crore and Rs.448.25 crore, respectively. Of the total funds received so far, Rs.768.26 Crore have been utilized. Thus, utilization percentage is 86.39 per cent. A total of 52 projects worth Rs.219 Crore have been completed and 16 projects worth Rs.549.10 crore are under execution. The work of four projects worth Rs.161.90 crore is under tendering process.
Arora was also apprised of the Ranking of Ludhiana Smar City. He was apprised by Municipal Commissioner that Ludhiana Smart City stands on No.48 in Ranking among 100 smart cities across the country as on October 11, 2023 whereas Amritsar and Jalandhar Smart Cities stand at No.79 and 84, respectively.
Regarding the ongoing Project of Rejuvenation of Budha Dariya, Arora was apprised about the present status. It may be mentioned here that Budha Darya is a seasonal tributary of River Sutlej which runs almost parallel to the River Sutlej through Ludhiana district, and merges with the river. The total length of the nallah for its entire stretch is 47.55-km out of which 14-Km passes through Ludhiana City and bisects it into two parts.
Arora was apprised about industrial waste issues, status of industrial effluent, solid waste issue, status of cow dung generated and disposed of at Dairy Complex Haibowal, Dairy Waste Management, handling of solid cow dung waste and present/planned ways of management of dairy waste
Further, Arora was apprised that 200 cusecs fresh canal water is released daily from Sirhind canal. It aims to decrease the pollution load in Budha Nallah by dilution. It intends to improve the aesthetic view of the Budha Nallah passing through the city. The total cost of the project is Rs.650 crore. Funds worth Rs.530.78 crore have been received so far.
Arora appreciated the Municipal Commissioner for being aggressive on completion of all projects. He asked MC to complete all the projects within the given deadlines in the larger interest of the Ludhiana residents.