Mohali:
Even after the Municipal Corporation Mohali announced a special monsoon drive and Mayor Sarabjeet Singh declared 30th June 2026 as a deadline for the cleaning of road gullies across the city, the ground reality paints a different picture.
A survey conducted by The Aman Sandesh Times at various locations has found that a large number of road gullies and storm-water inlets continue to remain blocked with dry leaves, silt, construction debris (malba) and other waste.
Despite claims that the cleaning work has been successfully completed, inspections in several Phases and Sectors of Mohali revealed that many road gullies are still covered with debris, preventing rainwater from entering the drainage system. As a result, residents fear that even moderate rainfall could lead to waterlogging, traffic disruptions and damage to roads.
The survey also found that in several places, dry leaves and waste collected during sweeping operations had been dumped on or around gully covers. During rainfall, this waste is likely to wash back into the drainage system, defeating the very purpose of the cleaning exercise.
Residents questioned the effectiveness of the drive, stating that if the work had been completed as claimed, such a large number of blocked gullies should not still be visible across the city. They urged the Municipal Corporation to conduct a fresh ward-wise inspection and verify the quality of the work carried out on the ground.
Atul Sharma, BJP leader and resident of Phase-2, Mohali, said, “Announcements and deadlines alone cannot solve the problem. The real test is visible on the ground. Unfortunately, many road gullies across Mohali remain blocked even after the completion deadline. If immediate corrective action is not taken, residents will once again face waterlogging during the monsoon. The Municipal Corporation must ensure that every road gully is cleaned properly and that no dry leaves or debris are left on or around gully covers after cleaning.”
Residents have demanded an inspection of the cleaning drive, strict accountability of the officials and contractors responsible for the work, and regular inspections throughout the monsoon season. They also urged the Municipal Corporation to ensure that neither sanitation workers nor residents dump leaves, silt or waste on or near storm-water gullies and manholes, as such practices quickly clog the drainage system again.
With the rainy season already underway, citizens have appealed to the Municipal Corporation Mohali to focus on actual ground-level execution rather than relying solely on completion claims, so that recurring waterlogging problems can be effectively prevented.
