Ludhiana: Open urination along a wall near city bus stand has become a nuisance for passersby, local residents and shopkeepers, with many complaining of an unbearable stench that lingers throughout the day.People using the narrow lane adjoining the bus stand say they are forced to cover their noses while passing through the stretch. “The smell is terrible and remains there 24×7. It becomes extremely difficult to walk through the lane, especially during peak hours,” said a resident.The openings at the bottom of the wall also allows the stench to spread on both in bus stand premises and adjoining areas.There are wash-rooms available inside the bus stand, yet people continue to relive themselves along the wall, the residents complain. They say to prevent this, additional public toilets and clearer directions towards them can help address the issue.Shopkeepers in the vicinity say the problem is not only affecting hygiene, but also impacting their work and business, as customers often complain about the foul conditions.Jagroop Singh, an automotive electrician with a shop nearby, said repeated complaints had not yielded any results. “Our complaints have fallen on deaf ears. People lack civic sense. When questioned, they respond with anger instead of understanding the problem,” he said.“Customers frequently complain about the stench they have to pass through. It creates a very bad impression of the area,” Damanpreet Singh, who runs a spare parts store in the area said.Rajesh Kumar, who operates a dhaba nearby, also said that there was a needs of strict monitoring and imposition of penalties to stop people from urinating like that in the bus stand or nearby.Residents and traders said stricter enforcement, installation of barriers or deterrents along the wall, and warning messages about penalties should be there prevent people from relieving themselves there.
