Sangrur :Residents of Punia Colony on the Haripura road here have been leading a miserable life due to the accumulation of dirty water, leaking from some manholes caused by the choking of sewer lines in front of their houses for the past many days. Due to choked sewer lines, dirty water has accumulated not only on the streets, but also on the main road. The residents, including doctors, are protesting against the collection of sewerage water on the main road and on the streets, but according to them, no one is listening to their grievances for the past one month.

Successful, measurable steps have been taken to promote the concepts of

Rain in the Capital has meant inconvenience more than relief for commuters, especially for those taking the road between ITO and Mathura Road under Tilak Bridge. Neglected for months, the stretch has become a deadly mix of waterlogging and sewage water filth.

Office of the Executive Engineer, Works Division XXI (PHE), PWD, Fatorda has invited applications from the residents of Vasco at the localities wherever sewerage network is provided to avail the facility to get connected to the sewerage system under the "Subsidized Sewerage Connection Scheme'.

They toil all day to desilt drains without any protective gear. Working without gumboots, gloves and masks, MCD desilting labourers will find that nothing is going to change this year despite tall claims made by the civic agency. The contractors are supposed to provide boots, helmet and gloves to workers as per the guidelines laid down in MCD contract. However, it is not followed. According to sources, MCD can blacklist or cancel the contract of a contractor who is found to be flouting guidelines.

The Metrowater has claimed that sewage contamination in drinking water at Five Holes Bridge in Villivakkam was due to unauthorised tampering with water pipelines. This submission was made on behalf of the Metrowater General Manager Amudhavalli before the First Bench of the Madras High Court, which had directed her to appear before it on Thursday in person in connection with a public interest litigation. The PIL had been filed by P Cholaraja contending that because of the encroachments made on one side of the bridge and damage caused to the pipelines, sewerage coming under the bridge got mixed up with drinking water. On Thursday, in reply to a query from the Bench comprising Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, the government pleader said on behalf of the Metrowater GM that water samples were collected and tested regularly and steps taken for preventing contamination. However, pipelines were being tampered with unauthorisedly, which caused contamination of drinking water, he said. Repair works were also being taken up as and when required. He also came forward to file an analysis and a detailed report on the steps taken to avoid contamination. And the Bench adjourned the matter till February 25.

While the Magh Mela at the Sangam in Allahabad attracted tens of thousands of pilgrims each day over the last month for their annual dips, as usual, the UP government can sigh with relief that there were no protests this time, unlike during the Ardha Kumbh Mela in January last year when sadhus threatened to take