Even pall bearers face difficulty in moving as streets encroached by shopkeepers
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 11: The residents of old Jammu city face peculiar problems due to congested and narrow roads and streets which hinder smooth public and vehicle movement apart from disturbing many other things and the encroachment by shopkeepers has further added to such miseries.
More in this regard was informed by Anil Masoom, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Councillor of Ward number 10, who said that encroachment of lanes and roads by shopkeepers by constructing platforms and stairs to extend their shops can even hinder an ambulance or fire tender to move in the area in case of some emergency as such vehicles can’t pass through the already narrow city paths which the shopkeepers have further worsened by encroachments.
“Even pall bearers face problems while they move through such narrow streets in the city carrying some corpse,” he said.
Masoom, who politically belongs to BJP and is a first time Councillor informed that his Ward includes areas like City Chowk, Super Bazar, JDA Market, Pahari Mohalla, Civil Secretariat, Parade Ground, Ranbir School, Women College Parade, Kachi Chowni, Ranbir Library, Rani Park, Afghana Mohalla, Pakka Danga, Gali Khilona, Chowk Chabutra (some portion) and Gali Hanuman.
In an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior, Masoom said that 80 per cent sewerage connections were complete in his Ward but the sub-standard work of sewerage has left many problems in the Ward.
“Sewerage pipes get frequently blocked at many places due to which litter comes out from manholes and spread on roads and streets leaving problems for the passersby and locals living there,” he maintained adding: “Some Nallah Gang type team should be engaged by the sewerage authorities for clearing these blocks. Also they (sewerage people) dug the lanes and roads and left them without proper repair which is adding to the miseries of locals.”
The Councillor also said that replacement of water supply pipes is also urgently needed in the Ward while hanging wires and damaged poles are common there for which the concerned authorities have not taken any corrective measure due to lack of funds.
“There are 30 Safai Karamcharis in the Ward and 15 more are needed in the absence of which cleanliness and sanitation of the Ward is badly affected though the available workforce is working very hard to keep the Ward clean,” he claimed.
Anil Masoom said that stray dogs also add to the problems in the Ward.
“There canines not only litter here and there but they also chase two wheelers and have created a wave of terror among children, women and old age persons,” he continued.
Masoom also said that work to cover drains properly has not been done in the Ward due to lack of funds while repair and construction work of lanes and drains in his Ward has been 80 per cent complete.
“About 90 per cent of my Ward is covered with Street Lights and of these the non-functional ones are being repaired in routine,” he said.
The Councillor also said that road blacktopping work is almost complete in his Ward and the small area left from this will be covered in Smart City project.
He informed that all the three parking places in the Ward at City Chowk, Old Hospital Road and Kachi Chawni are not properly maintained by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) despite charging heavily for parking vehicles at these places.
The JMC Councillor further said that Smart Meters have been installed in the Ward without any public resentment or protest.
It is pertinent to mention here that over four years have passed when the elected Urban Local Body of JMC had assumed office but still many works have not been completed and many others have failed to see the light of the day.
“The garbage collecting autos moving from door-to-door to collect the garbage from households are doing a good job and in narrow streets where these autos can’t reach, wheel barrows have been pressed into service,” Anil Masoom said adding: “After these autos were pressed into service garbage dumps have been reduced in the Ward.”
The Councillor said, at a very old garbage dumping place in Parade area, a Garbage Transfer Station is under plan.
“Nallahs in my Ward are normal and doesn’t cause floods while there are many Community Halls in the Ward and there are also three Public Toilets to facilitate the public,” the Councillor said.
He also said that proper monitoring is required for all public toilets in the Ward for which JMC should depute some personnel.
“There are four Parks-Rani Park, Diwana Mandir Park, Ranvireshwar Mandir Park and Park in front of Civil Secretariat in my Ward,” Anil said adding that Rani Park will be developed under Smart City project while other parks are maintained by JMC but Dharmarth Trust takes care of Ranvireshwar Mandir Park.
He claimed that almost all the residents of his Ward have made their Ayushman Cards while most of the eligible Voters have made their Voter Cards and others have got Domicile Certificates.
Councillor Masoom said: “Wrong vehicle parking in my Ward causes many problems while people there also face monkey menace and there were also reports regarding thefts involving iron gratings from the drains.”
He also said that drug addicts and peddlers are also active in his Ward and the police should take a cognizance of this so as to safeguard the youth from the menace.
“Of the provided Water Coolers some have turned non-functional in the Ward but the concerned authorities have not done anything to repair these,” the Councillor said.
He concluded claiming that few non-cooperative elements in the public and poor funding by the concerned authorities remained among reasons for unaccomplished works in the Ward.
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