Wrongly executed sewerage work, stray dogs makes life miserable
Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 13: Some parts of Ward number 15 of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) are facing critical sanitation issues as a Nallah coming from Mohalla Paharian and passing through Raghunath Pura was broken some four months back but repair has not been done over it so far and no slab has been placed over it.
In this regard Councillor of the Ward, Sandhya Gupta said that the Nallah is still open creating nuisance by spreading bad smell and dirty looks in the area.
“I even wrote to then JMC Mayor, JMC Commissioner and Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) for construction work on the Nallah but nothing has been done so far in this regard,” she said.
In an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior, Sandhya, who is a first time JMC Councillor and won as an Independent candidate, said that stray dogs also create a lot of problems in her Ward.
“These canines not only litter here and there and bite people but also chase two wheelers and have created a wave of terror among the women, children and old age people in the area,” she said.
Sandhya Gupta informed that areas of her Ward include Raghunath Pura, Partapgarh Mohalla, Darugiran Mohalla, Panjbakhtar Road, Kaleeth, New Kaleeth, Hari Market, some portion of Gumat Bazar and some portion of Kanak Mandi.
She said that construction and repair work of lanes and drains in her Ward is 70 per cent complete and blacktopping is almost done there barring three lanes where blacktopping was to be done by JMC but not even tenders have been floated so far due to official red tape culture at JMC offices.
“About 70 per cent of the Ward has been covered by Street Lights but still some 300 more such lights are needed there while the repair of the damaged ones is done in routine,” she maintained adding: “The autos moving from door-to-door to collect garbage from households are doing a good work in garbage disposal but for small and narrow streets wheel barrows are needed which have not been provided in the Ward so far.”
The Councilor claimed that after the garbage collector autos were pressed into service, number of garbage dumps have been reduced in the Ward.
“Wrongly executed sewerage work has left many problems in the Ward as pipes of the sewerage get frequently chocked at many places and the litter comes out from manholes and spreads on the roads and lanes leaving problems for the passersby and locals there,” Sandhya Gupta said.
She said that there are 33 Safai Karamcharis in her Ward but eight more are needed for proper cleanliness in the area.
“Due to inadequate manpower, cleanliness in the Ward is only at average level,” the Councillor further said.
She informed that there is no playground and no Health Centre in the Ward but there is a Community Hall at Prajapati Sabha Sant Goran Ji Mandir on which JMC has spent Rs. 35 lakh for developmental works.
Sandhya informed that JMC has spent Rs. 25 lakh on a Music Theatre at historic Panjbakhtar Mandir to facilitate religious and devotional programmes.
“There are three public toilets in my Ward of which one is damaged and two are in good condition. For the damaged one I have written many times to the then JMC Mayor but nothing was done in last three years,” the Councillor claimed.
She also said that there is Jammu Development Authority (JDA) parking in the Ward and there are two public parks at Kaleeth Mohalla which are well maintained with lights, tile work and Open Air Gyms but these parks need gardeners for proper care and maintenance.
“Water supply in the Ward is made on alternate days and pipes have been replaced there,” the JMC Councillor said adding that Smart Meters have been installed in the Ward with little public resentment.
She informed that there are hanging wires and damaged poles in the Ward which were not corrected so far by the concerned authorities, and, that is the reason for public resentment during installation of Smart Meters in the Ward.
Sandhya Gupta said that most of the people in her Ward have made their Ayushman Cards and most of the eligible Voters have got their Voter Cards and same is the status for Domicile Certificates.
“Though most of the widows, physically challenged and old age persons in my Ward get pensions but the newly introduced rule for these pensions exclusively to Below Poverty Line People is creating problems for others,” she said.
The Councillor also talked about poor maintenance of Water Coolers in the Ward.
“There are many drug addicts and peddlers active in my Ward for which the police should take a cognizance,” she continued.
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