Ludhiana: The municipal corporation (MC) has relaunched its enforcement campaign against the illegal dumping of waste into the Sidhwan Canal, warning residents that “spiritual excuses” will no longer shield them from steep penalties.Authorities have deployed specialized teams along the canal banks within city limits to curb a recent surge in pollution. Violators caught dumping waste now face a mandatory Rs5,000 fine.
‘The Priest Excuse’Officials report that the primary challenge to the “Mission Clean Sidhwan Canal” is not just household trash, but ritualistic offerings. During the crackdown, many offenders claimed they were acting on the advice of priests or astrologers to resolve personal, marital, or professional issues. “People give several excuses to escape, often claiming they only dumped dry flowers,” said one official on duty. “We have told them repeatedly they can compost these items at home, but the advice is ignored.“Despite a special meeting convened by the MC with local astrologers to discourage the practice, officials noted that strict “challaning” (fining) remains the only effective deterrent. The drive originally stemmed from a Nov 2022 petition filed by city activists with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).More than 1,500 fines were issued last year for polluting the canal, yet the dumping of waste, suspended during recent byelections, is now fully reinstated. Assistant municipal commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon, who leads the enforcement initiative, emphasised that the period of leniency was over. “I appeal to residents to avoid these mistakes,” Sekhon said. “We are not going to buy any excuse. If you are caught, you will face a challan.“The MC first initiated the cleanliness campaign at major canal bridges in Jan 2023. While officials admit to facing “strong resentment” from the public during enforcement, they maintain that the drive is essential to preventing the water body from becoming a landfill.
