Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 1: Though the tenure of elected public representatives of Urban Local Body of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has only a few months left yet the problem of poor water supply in Ward Number 44, which includes many parts of Nanak Nagar area, is as it was earlier and gets aggravated in summers.
This was stated by S. Inder Singh Soodan, an Independent JMC Councillor elected for the first time from Ward Number 44 after he won JMC elections in the year 2018. The Ward includes areas of Sectors 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Nanak Nagar.
In an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior, Soodan informed that Nanak Nagar area has some tube-wells which were made some 50 years back but at present more tube wells are needed there as the population in the Ward has now increased manifolds.
“I met many senior officers in the administration with this demand but nothing fruitful emerged,” he continued adding that the Ward has no park and no playground due to scarcity of land.
The Councillor also said that there is a dire need of changing the old water supply pipes in the Ward so that wastage of water from the leaks developed in the old worn-out pipes can be prevented as many of the old pipes in the area have been rusted and damaged with time.
“Some tile work of lanes is still remaining in my Ward due to poor funding. As soon as the funds become available the same will be done,” he said.
The Councillor informed that though his Ward is very vast yet only 40 Safai Karamcharis have been provided there against a requirement of 60, which has resulted in cleanliness not as per satisfaction though the Ward is not dirty.
“When I became Councillor, the Ward was in dire need of blacktopping of lanes and repair of drains. Many lanes in the Ward then were not blacktopped for 15-20 years,” he said adding: “Apart from this, the Ward residents were facing problems due to poor power and water supply while flooding of a Nallah (deep drain) in the area use to cause havoc especially in rainy days with encroachments by those living along the Nallah being a big cause for that.”
“The Ward was in urgent need of street lights, solution to the problem of stray animals, garbage disposal etc,” the Councillor maintained claiming that many of the issues have now been resolved but still there are many which could not be solved due to poor funding by the authorities concerned.
“Now the tendering process for the Nallah is underway and I am hopeful that the work on it may start within 1-2 months,” he informed adding: “For garbage disposal the JMC has now pressed into service autos for door-to-door garbage collection.”
“Though this new development has solved the problem of garbage disposal to a large extent yet there are certain people who are habitual of throwing garbage and litter on roads, lanes and drains. I humbly appeal to all such people to desist from this wrong habit and make proper use of the garbage autos to make the Ward a neat and clean place,” he said.
Soodan claimed that he helped about 447 elders, widows and physically challenged people of his Ward in getting pension and rued the new policy of the government for exclusively including persons from Below Poverty Line families as beneficiaries for these pensions.
He further said that he organised many camps for making Aadhar Cards, Ayushman Cards and Voter Cards in his Ward to facilitate the locals.
The JMC Councillor informed that about 70 per cent work of blacktopping lanes, 90 per cent work of repairing drains has been completed in his Ward while some tile work is also pending and the reason for all these pending works is poor funding.
“During COVID-19 pandemic I voluntarily gave my tanker and tractor to JMC for spraying disinfectant for two months and paid for diesel from my own pocket for the entire work. I also organised COVID vaccination camps in my Ward,” he said.
Soodan further said that he also distributed ration to the needy people during COVID-19 triggered lockdown and now during the outbreak of dengue he is getting fogging and spray done in his Ward.
Among works done by him he also counted a community hall made in Sector 10 of the Ward at Shiv Durga temple which is about to complete.
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