Snail’s pace development due to lack of funds
Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 14:The big deep drains (Nallahs) turn violent in rainy season and cause devastating floods after which water enters residential houses causing damage and this happens every year in Ward 67.
This was revealed by Suraj Prakash Padha, elected Councilor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) from Ward Number 67.
Padha, who is from BJP and is a first time Councillor, in an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior said his Ward consists of main Muthi, Lower Muthi, Kalika Colony, Udhaiwala (old), Netar Kothey (Lower Barnai), Nanak Vihar, Geeta Colony, some portion of Akalpur, Chander Vihar, Laxmi Nagar and Baisakhi Colony.
“Two Nallahs in my Ward-one flowing from Muthi to Nai Basti and the other from Lale Da Bagh, needs immediate repair while two culverts at Kalika Colony also need repair but nothing has been done in this regard so far due to paucity of funds resulting which the flood water enters residential houses causing damages in rainy season every year,” he informed.
The Councillor further said that at Kaliaka Colony, Nallahs from Roop Nagar, Santra Morh and Dream City meet causing massive flood and concrete work on these Nallahs is yet to be done there though there was a project for that with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 5 crore but the money has not been released so far due to which about 300 families remain victimized every year.
It is pertinent to mention here that the elected body of JMC responsible for developments in JMC Wards has completed over four years of its mandated tenure of five, but developments still are miles away from completion while certain works have not even started yet.
He claimed that many new areas have been added to the Ward after its extension but funds were not hiked.
“It is a big Ward with no drains in many areas as the waste water there used to go to agricultural fields but now an amount of Rs. 15 lakh is required for putting the things in order in this regard while the overall work of lanes and drains in my Ward is only 40 per cent complete due to shortage of funds,” Padha said adding that his Ward got 2300 street lights of which only 1500 are working and none from the company concerned pays any heed to repair the damaged ones while 700 more such lights may be given to the Ward as poles for them have been fixed.
He informed that work on a community hall at an expenditure of Rs. 60 lakh is underway at Amit Nagar, Muthi while there are three crematoriums at Muthi, Lower Barnai and Nai Basti of which only the one at Muthi is properly developed while work on the two others is underway.
“A Shishu Samadhi (graveyard for children) is also in the Ward at Chandan Vihar, Muthi and it is properly developed with facility of ladies bathroom,” the JMC Councillor claimed.
He also said that an open air gym has been given in the park along Ranbir Canal along with facilities like shed and seats.
“About 60 per cent blacktopping work in the Ward has been completed and the remaining is underway and the Ward lacks place for vehicle parking and a playground,” Padha maintained adding: “Number of Safai Karamcharis in the Ward is 52 but 10 more are required for proper cleanliness as the Ward is very big in area.”
The Councillor said that autos for door-to-door garbage collection are doing a good job and have solved the problem of garbage disposal but problems due to stray animals especially due to dogs are still there as these dogs litter everywhere and panic children and elders.
“About 95 per cent of my Ward residents have made their Ayushman Cards while we keep on organizing camps for Voter and Aadhar Cards for the leftover population,” he said.
He informed that all the eligible people in the Ward have received vaccination for COVID-19 and he has helped about 300 people in getting old age pension.
A Primary Health Centre for the Ward for which Rs. 2 crore were sanctioned is yet to see clearance for the land from I&FC Department.
He informed that the Ward has one public toilet and many addicts and peddlers are also active there for which the police should take a cognizance.
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