Samgoli solid waste project caught in political crossfire, says Mohali mayor
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Addressing a press conference, the mayor launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab govt, accusing it of turning a critical public health issue into a political tug-of-war.
Mayor Sidhu said that while the city generates over 150 tonnes of waste daily, the current waste management contract covers only 100 tonnes. "With no proper dumping ground in Mohali, garbage is piling up at several locations and being temporarily dumped at RMC points, creating a hellish situation for residents," he said.
Slamming recent remarks made by MLA Kulwant Singh regarding the Samgoli project, the mayor revealed that of the total 50 acres of land allotted for the waste management centre, 39 acres have already been acquired, and a boundary wall was constructed at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. However, the remaining 11 acres are entangled in bureaucratic delays within the revenue department.
Sidhu also said that public-sector giants like HPCL and GAIL conducted surveys and submitted a proposal worth Rs 27 crore for setting up a biogas plant at the site.
The project, envisioned under the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Corporation (PMIDC), has been stuck at the department's head office since March 2025.
"This is not just a Mohali-specific project," the mayor said. "It has the potential to benefit the entire Gmada cluster, including Zirakpur, Derabassi, Banur, Lalru, and Naya Gaon. Yet, political delays are depriving lakhs of residents of clean surroundings."
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Raising another major hurdle, the mayor said that the proposed site lacks proper road connectivity. Though the rural development and panchayati raj department issued a no- objection certificate (NOC) for constructing a Rs 29-crore access road, no work has begun at the ground level.
Deputy Mayor Flags Infrastructure Gaps
Echoing the mayor's concerns, deputy mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi wrote a letter to the Punjab chief secretary — who also serves as Gmada chairman — highlighting the lack of access and infrastructure at the Samgoli site.
Bedi, who recently visited the location, stated: "There is no proper approach road. A narrow eight-foot wide path, which turns into a kutcha stretch in the last kilometre, is the only way in. No plant, no machinery, not even a proper foundation has been laid — only a boundary wall exists."
Calling Gmada's statements "misleading", Bedi accused officials of "feeding lies" to the public. He warned that the issue could soon turn into a full-blown public agitation if swift action is not taken.
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