Garbage dumps have been increasing in size and the smell emanating from them has become unbearable.
Roads near the bus stand flyover, State College Road, New Officers Colony and Charan Bagh are filled with litter.
“We have complained several times to the MC about the filth on the roads but to no avail,” said students residing near state college.
Over a dozen localities in the royal city are facing water shortage. The water supply has reduced from five hours to only an hour everyday. Ghumman Nagar, Sewak Colony, Desi Mehmandari, Punjabi Bagh, Lehal Colony, Model Town, Officers Colony, Chotti Baradari, areas inside the walled city, New Lal Bagh and Guru Nanak Nagar, Tripuri are some of the colonies that are not supplied with enough water. Even though the MC authorities had razed a few illegal buildings recently, they have failed to deter people from constructing illegal buildings.
Several illegal commercial buildings are mushrooming in the city. Shopkeepers and dhaba owners on the Mall Road have encroached on the pathway that was built for pedestrians. Large puddles of water dot the roads of the city as the MC failed to repair potholes before the start of the monsoon season. It has become dangerous for anyone to even walk on the roads.
Potholes on roads leading to Fountain Chowk, Mall Road, Model Town, the Polo Ground and the Rajindra Hospital have led to several accidents.
“It is a shame that the cash-strapped MC cannot even offer basic amenities to local residents,” said former Mayor Vishnu Sharma.
When contacted, Patiala Mayor Amrinder Singh Bazaz said they were struggling to find space to dump garbage. “As far as illegal buildings are concerned, the ones that have come to my notice will be demolished and we will make sure that no such buildings are allowed to come up in the future either,” he said.
