Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 28: There are problems in Ward number 62 of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) due to stray dogs and labourers living in vacant plots.
This was informed by Rekha Manhas, Councillor of the Ward who claimed that stray dogs not only litter everywhere but also bite people and chase two wheelers and have created a wave of terror among women, children and old age people.
“Animal Care Centre of JMC is there in my Ward where dogs from whole of the Jammu city are brought for treatment and after treatment these canines stay there for sometime but as gates of the Centre remain open, these dogs come out and roam freely in the locality thereby creating problems for the residents there,” she said.
In an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior, Rekha Manhas, who politically belongs to BJP and is a first time Councillor said that areas of her Ward include Laxmipuram, Chinore and Sectors 1 to 5 and 9 of Upper Roop Nagar.
“Many labourers live in vacant plots in my Ward and as there is no facility of toilets in these plots these people defecate in open thereby affecting cleanliness and sanitation of the Ward,” she said.
The JMC Councillor also said that hanging wires and damaged poles are there in her Ward and the concerned authorities have not paid any attention to correct these.
“Monkeys are there in large number in Sector 5 of Upper Roop Nagar and they create disturbance in daily affairs of the people of the area by taking away things from residential houses especially eatables,” she further said.
It is pertinent to mention here that though more than four years of the mandatory tenure of five for the elected body of JMC have passed, many developmental works are yet to be completed while many of such works have not even seen the light of the day.
The Councillor informed that there are two Nallahs in the Ward-one in JDA colony of Roop Nagar and another at Chinore and there is encroachment over these Nallahs.
“However these Nallahs do not flood in rainy season as corrective work has already been done over these,” she maintained adding: “Repair and construction work of lanes and drains is maximum done in my Ward and same is the status of blacktopping work there.”
Rekha Manhas claimed that 90 per cent of her Ward has been covered with Street Lights and complaints about these lights are rare in the Ward.
“There are 24 parks in my Ward and all of these are well maintained because most of these parks are adopted by the locals. There are Open Air Gyms at two of these parks while there are facilities of light, seats and tiled paths in all these parks and there is also a play stations in one park in my Ward,” she continued.
The Councillor said that there are three ponds in her Ward of which two are in good condition while one is under litigation.
“There is no parking place for vehicles but a Community Hall in the Ward is presently under construction and there is also a public toilet in Roop Nagar area of the Ward for facilitating the public,” she informed.
Manhas also said that presently there is no Health Centre in her Ward as the one which was there has now been shifted to another place.
She said that there are also Public Bathrooms in the Ward to facilitate the public and there are 38 Safai Karamcharis in the Ward while there is a need of 60.
“Despite this shortage cleanliness in the Ward is quite good due to proper use of the available workforce,” Rekha Manhas claimed.
The Councillor said that water supply in her Ward is made after alternate day and there is a cremation ground and a graveyard in the Ward which are in good condition.
“Autos collecting garbage by moving from door-to-door are doing a good job in garbage disposal and from the day this facility has been introduced in the Ward, garbage dumps have been reduced there,” she said.
The Councillor said though many widows, physically challenged and old age persons in her Ward are getting pension but the newly introduced rule for these pensions exclusively to Below Poverty Line people is creating problems for others.
She said that almost all the residents of her Ward have made their Ayushman Cards and most of the eligible Voters have got their Voter Cards and same is the status of Domicile Certificates in her Ward.
“There are reports about thefts involving iron gratings from drains in the Ward and there are also many drug addicts and peddlers active in the area for which the police should take a cognizance,” Rekha Manhas said adding that there is a need of about 10 High Mast Lights in Roop Nagar and Chinore.
She said that there are four Water Coolers in the Ward and these are in good working condition.
“For house numbering a survey is presently going on in the Ward,” Rekha Manhas said.
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