Village protest over stagnant sewage

Hoshiarpur/ Daljeet Ajnoha/June 20
Residents of Khanpur village staged a protest against the Punjab government, the B.D.P.O. and the local panchayat after filthy stagnant water accumulated in the lanes made life miserable for neighbourhood families. Residents — including Sohan Singh, Jaspal Singh Pala, Gurmeet Kaur, Satiesh Kumar Bansal, Rajinder Bansal, Amandeep Singh, Kundanveer, Reena Sharma, Anita Rani and Balwinder Kaur — said sewage and rainwater remain pooled in the village’s main lane because the panchayat has not cleared the drain, turning the area into something like a pond.
They said the lane has been badly damaged by heavy vehicles, with the kerbs also broken, making it extremely difficult for villagers and passersby to walk. The foul-smelling water has made daily life unbearable for nearby residents, they added. Locals warned that mosquitoes breeding in the stagnant water pose a risk of spreading several diseases.
Villagers said the monsoon season is about to begin, yet the panchayat is delaying repairs. “The Bhagwant Mann government talks about rural development, but it seems as if a shadow has been cast over the improvement of this lane,” they said. The protesters added the matter has already been brought to the notice of the panchayat, the JE and the B.D.P.O., but no action has been taken so far.
Sarpanch Balwinder Kaur told reporters that the sewer project for the lane has already been approved and government funds have been released, but work has been delayed due to a shortage of labour. “Sewer lines will be laid and the lane rebuilt soon,” she said. B.D.P.O. Kanwarjeet Singh said the issue had not come to his attention earlier and that he has been engaged in other official duties, but promised the matter would be resolved quickly.