PEC suggests reconstruction of Mohali roads

MOHALI: In May 2014, a permanent Lok Adalat directed Mohali MC to cover open manholes, clean sewerage lines, and conduct scarification of roads before re-carpeting to stop rainwater from seeping into houses. The PEC team hired by MC has also recommended scarification of roads (lowering a road surface to make it equal to adjacent roads) because of the rise in plinth level.MC will table PEC recommendations in the house before implementation. In 2013, Mohali resident Atul Sharma filed a case against Gmada (Greater Mohali Area Development Authrority) and Mohali's Public Health and Water Supply Department, seeking directions for the maintenance of inner roads and sewerage system in the city.
PEC engineers of the civil department suggested that there should be 26km of new pipeline for proper drainage of rainwater. According to their survey, the plinth level of roads is already above normal, and is on the rise. The reason is premix or re-carpeting of roads without scarification. The survey also said old roads are being re-carpeted, due to which plinth level has risen to 1.5 feet, blocking rainwater on roads, leading to water-logging. The recommendation is to scarify the roads and construct them again to check water-logging.
With the level of main roads around sectors increasing, internal or residential areas have become low-lying. The height of roads has surpassed the plinth level of houses, states the survey. PEC suggested that the material extracted during digging of roads be used in re-construction. As per the PEC's technical recommendations, the plinth level of houses is 1.5 feet lower than the roads. But in Mohali, it is the opposite -- the level of roads is 1.5 feet higher than the houses. MC commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta said: "The suggestions of PEC will be tabled before the house for discussion or implementation."