Ludhiana: Diwali may be over, but its waste is still spilling onto Ludhiana’s roads.A sharp post-festival surge in garbage has left heaps of waste along roadsides and at several intersections, stretching the city’s sanitation machinery. Civic officials said daily garbage generation, normally around 1,000-1,100 tonnes, shoots up to 1,400-1,500 tonnes around Diwali, leaving sanitation teams with hundreds of additional tonnes to clear.On Tuesday morning, sanitation workers were seen collecting large heaps from different stretches, even as garbage continued to lie scattered along roadsides. At some places, sweepers allegedly resorted to burning the accumulated waste, adding to pollution concerns at a time when the city is already grappling with poor air quality.At major chowks, residents had discarded brooms and other material following festival cleaning and rituals. With heaps accumulating, some of the waste was set on fire to clear it.Civic officials attributed the backlog largely to the annual festive spike in waste generation. They said the sharp increase puts additional pressure on sanitation staff and the existing collection system, and it takes time for operations to return to normal.The lifting process was also affected by Vishwakarma Day celebrations, when sanitation workers and other staff participated in rituals. Officials said teams were now working day and night to clear the accumulated garbage.Amid the mounting waste, mayor Inderjit Kaur ordered speedy and regular garbage lifting across the city. She directed senior civic officials to remain in the field and ensure that collection operations were not affected.Officials of the health branch were also directed to expedite lifting from static compactor sites as the civic body worked to clear the post-Diwali backlog.The mayor also appealed to residents not to burn garbage, saying it harmed the environment. She warned that strict action would be taken against violators.The accumulation of waste, meanwhile, has raised questions over the civic body’s preparedness to deal with the festive surge that occurs every year.Gurdev Nagar resident Manjit Singh said timely lifting and proper disposal arrangements were essential to prevent roadside dumping and open burning, particularly when pollution levels were already a concern.Civil Lines resident Manoj Singh said burning garbage to clear roadside heaps defeated the purpose of maintaining cleanliness while adding to the city’s pollution burden. With air quality already poor, such burning could make matters worse, particularly for asthma and heart patients, he said.
