Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 3: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla has asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to carryout regular sanitation drive to give a clean look to the city for upcoming festivals of Navratras, Eid and Diwali.
The Minister was leading a team of senior functionaries of JMC and Urban Environmental Engineering Department during his visit to Valmiki Colony, Shiva Ji Chowk, Nanak Nagar Sector 1, 4, 6 besides Trikuta Nagar, Basant Vihar and Nai Basti to take stock of development and sanitation related requirements of these areas.
Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation Kiran Wattal besides other senior officers of Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) and JMC also accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Bhalla asked them to gear up men and machinery and carry out sanitation, including opening and desilting of choked drains and nallahs in different areas of the city.
The Minister said it was the prime duty of the Government to provide all civic amenities to the people adding that a number of sewerage schemes have been launched in rural and urban areas to meet this end.
He also called upon the Nanak Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Nai Basti residents not to dump building material in the nallahs and lanes, adding that such practices not only create problems for the JMC, which face great difficulties in removing the debris (mulba) but also clogs the nallahs and drains resulting in overflowing of rain water into the houses.
Mr. Bhalla said Government has earmarked Rs. 68 crore for modernization of Gangyal, Digiana, Trikuta Nagar, Bhour Camp and Rajiv Nagar Barsati nallahs, adding that the project would be started soon by Economic Reconstruction Agency. He said under the project, all formalities have been completed to start the work. He called upon the people to cooperate with the ERA by removing encroachments from nallah land voluntarily.
Responding to demand of Nai Basti people, the Minister asked the JMC Commissioner to immediately start the face lifting of Nai Basti recreational park including installation of mast lights . He also asked the Commissioner JMC to include the adjoining land area into the recreational park to save it from the encroachers. He said Government has spent Rs. 45 lakh for channelizing and covering of 150 meter nallah stretch flowing along the locality.
Regarding construction of lanes and drains at Nanak Nagar Sector 6 & 7, Bhalla asked the JMC to prepare estimates and submit the same for funding.
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