The construction of high-income group (HIG) flats in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar is creating a lot of problems for residents these days. An initiative of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), the project has been allotted to city-based Deepak Builders.

The residents complain that the builders have thrown mud on the road, blocking it fully, while digging the foundation for the flats. While a few trolleys of mud were removed after the residents complained to LIT officials around 20 days ago, the problem still persists.

Arvind Sharma, a resident of the area, said: “The dirt is causing allergies to a number of people. Further adding to our problems is the roadblock, which has made it difficult for us to move.” Pran Bhatia, another resident, said: “Despite our complaints, the LIT is not taking the contractor to task. No project should cause such problems to the people.”

When Newsline contacted Deepak Singhal, owner of Deepak Builders, he denied the charges. Singhal said: “The site has to be re-filled with mud, which will take 15 days. At present, we have put the mud on one side of the road which is already blocked due to garbage. The road was already in a bad shape.”

Also denying the residents’ allegations that heaps of mud had been thrown on the main 300-foot wide road, Singhal said: “I have no idea about those heaps on the roadside. Someone else must have thrown them.”