B L Saraf
With the advent of Narendra Modi Government at the centre and the formation of PDP /BJP government in the state quite a few catchy words entered our daily discussion. Words like Smart Cities’, modernized urban centers, Wi fi, shining roads for connectivity, tree lined avenues, ete have gone viral all over the country, so much so that we , in the state, also fell prey to the disease. For a while, the words sounded pleasant; but now they have an irritating effect on our ear drums. Well, what happens outside is not known to us but here we see a complete mismatch between the words said and the action taken (not taken). Contrarily, opposite is happening in the Jammu city. Roads are in a deplorable condition that it is dreadful even to think of coming out on a city roads, be it in a vehicle or on foot-in any part of the city posh and slum included. Roads and lanes are being dug out with a maddening enterprise . And then the left over job of discouraging a commuter to venture out has been done by the ubiquitous encroacher, by gobbling up the foot paths and squeezing out the road crossings and the corners, poking a fun at the authorities that be.
Ten years back ERA came into the picture, reportedly, to solve the festering problem of sewerage in Jammu city and the surrounding areas. Thus started the city’s tale of unending woe. Earth cutters were let loose with a ferocious intensity all over the place that, at one time, the city looked a heap of debris, giving an impression that a high intensity earth quake has hit the town . Mercilessly, the process is still on.Once one agency completes the digging process the other steps in and then the third and the fourth. The misery of the peoples is being explained on very flimsy grounds. Sometimes, amelioration of our drinking water problem is put forth to justify the digging on all sides of the road.; then improvement of telecom facility is pressed into the service to inflict more misery. The process goes on and on. There is no denying that by character the roads and lanes have to bear a brunt. They help transport men and materials over the surface and carry means of infrastructure like PHE pipes, cables and sewerage drains under the surface. But they too need nursing and care. Wanton digging and continuous oozing water will harm them. Water pipes are left leaking at every conceivable and inconceivable points, damaging the remnants of the black topped road, if anywhere they are. Truly, ERA-Economic Reconstruction Agency-is fast acquiring a definition quite opposite to the one that comes naturally to it .
The infrastructure means are managed by the public and municipal authorities. It would be normal for them to coordinate the effort and work in tandem so that the roads and lanes are not vandalized off and on . We witness an unholy spectacle that soon after one agency completes digging at a place and fills the earth black topping is done in patches . Immediately, there after other agency goes on digging spree and filling exercise. The practice is repeated at a huge loss to the public exchequer and great inconvenience to the public at large . The drama enacted reminds us of the unscrupulous practice adopted in the past to loot the public funds, where , in a far flung area of the state, an imaginary bridge was shown in papers to have been built on a non-existent stream and then recorded as dismantled on the so called change of course of that imaginary stream. A case of making money both ways.
The problem referred above is not peculiar to Jammu; whole state is confronted with it. Therefore, a clear thinking of course correction in terms of policy orientation, administrative and organizational direction is called for . We don’t want expectations to be fanned high. Little we need is for the Government to show it is moving. It must address the challenge of indifference with proactive policies with regard to the basic issues. Be it looking after the interests of flood affected people in the Valley or the ERA suffered citizenry of the Jammu city.
We are told that in next ten years number of Smart Cities will come up in the country and J&K. Let us pray for it. In the meanwhile, could someone in the establishment ssure us, with authority, that Jammu’s digging woes will come to an end, at least ‘ in the next ten years’. The State Government was ushered in with a great promise and hope. Hope still lingers. But views of dissent on the working of the Government are growing. It will have to act fast before the dissenting voices get louder.
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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