Ludhiana: Incomplete road repairs have triggered “mini dust storms” that are choking locals and crippling small businesses. Commuters and shopkeepers report sand screens on major stretches left dug up for months.The situation has shifted from a mere traffic inconvenience to a public health crisis, with families reporting a surge in respiratory issues as loose soil and debris become airborne. On stretches such as Jassian Road, the shopkeepers also describe a relentless cycle of cleaning goods only for them to be recoated in grit within minutes.“Every time a vehicle passes, it feels like a mini dust storm,” said Harpreet Singh, a local trader. “Sprinkling water even thrice a day does nothing. The dust has given my children a chronic cough; so this isn’t just an inconvenience but a hazard.” On days when strong winds whip across unfinished construction sites, motorcyclists wrap their faces in scarves to navigate the near-zero visibility that the swirling grit creates.Bureaucratic gears that never clickThe frustration is most palpable in Ward 81, where a road excavated for water supply lines has remained in a state of ruin for more than three months. Residents say the “pathetic” conditions lie ignored even though the ward is near the municipal corporation’s Zone-B office.Key grievances from the community include failed mitigation infrastructure overload, and the futility of cleaning. Dug-up portions were covered with loose sand rather than being paved properly, exacerbating the dust problem. Traffic diversions have pushed heavy vehicles onto narrow inner lanes, destroying secondary roads not built for such high volume. Residents showcased layers of thick silt settled on parked vehicles as evidence of the air quality.The Official ResponseCivic officials claim to have issued work orders and scheduled repairs, but for those living in the “dust bowl” of Ward 81, the ground reality suggests otherwise. Community leaders now want the civic body to implement mandatory, high-frequency water sprinkling on all active construction sites to suppress the dust. Without quick intervention, residents warn that the city’s ambitious road repair project will be remembered more for the coughs it caused than for the pavement it promised. MSID:: 130333225 413 |
