The Mini Leisure Valley in Ludhiana, a once-popular green recreational stretch developed by the municipal corporation along the Sidhwan Canal, has fallen into severe disrepair. The area, which runs from the railway overbridge on Pakhowal Road through Model Town Extension to Dugri Bridge, now suffers from broken boundary walls, exposed electrical wires, damaged streetlights, and encroachments by vegetable vendors and others who have broken sections of the wall to store goods. The ongoing 24x7 water supply project has further exacerbated the damage, making it difficult for residents to even walk through the area.
Damage from Water Supply Project and Encroachments
Lakhs of rupees were spent on creating the Mini Leisure Valley with landscaping, lighting, and beautification works. However, the 24x7 water supply project has caused extensive damage to the entire stretch. Roadside vegetable vendors and other encroachers have broken sections of the boundary wall and are misusing the area for dumping and storing their goods. The situation has become so bad that the public has almost completely stopped visiting the once beautiful recreational space.
Public Outcry and Calls for Action
Residents and activists have expressed outrage over the neglect. Activist Arvind Sharma said, “It is unfortunate to see such a valuable public asset, created with taxpayers’ money at a cost of lakhs of rupees, reduced to this condition. The Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and the authorities concerned must fix responsibility and the agency undertaking 24x7 water supply project should be directed to restore and redevelop the entire Mini Leisure Valley to its original attractive condition, so that the people can once again benefit from this important civic amenity.”
Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Model Town Extension, said, “We used to come here for evening walks, but now the broken paths and dangling wires make it dangerous even to step inside.” Garish Mehta, a shopkeeper, remarked, “Vendors have taken over large portions of the boundary wall. Instead of a leisure valley, it looks more of a storage yard.” College student Simranpreet Kaur, who once frequented the canal stretch with friends, questioned, “The corporation must act quickly. If lakhs were spent on this project, why is no one accountable for its upkeep?”
Safety Hazards and Deterioration
Exposed electrical wires pose a serious safety hazard, while many of the streetlights installed there are either damaged or have disappeared altogether. The broken boundary wall has allowed encroachers to misuse the area, further deteriorating the condition. The public has almost completely stopped visiting the area, which was once envisioned as a green recreational space for the city's residents.
