Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 18: The Jal Shakti Department is supplying contaminated water to the residents of Ward Number 2 in the heart of Jammu city and the repeated demand of the locals there regarding replacement of the old worn-out water supply pipes was never fulfilled owing to shortage of funds and popular red tape existing in offices of the Urban Local Body.
This was revealed by Jagdish Kumar Sharma, elected Councillor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) from Ward Number 2.
He further informed that a project of Rs. 3 crore for making a big tank for water storage and for construction of a tube well with a booster pump and other related things was given technical sanction and the same may start soon but so far the Ward is reeling under water crisis.
Sharma, who is an Independent Councillor and was elected for the first time from the Ward, further said that his Ward includes the areas from Mubarak Mandi to Baba Lal Ji street, Pakki Dhakki and some portion of Circular Road.
“No blacktopping has been done in my Ward while the JMC authorities claim that they have floated tenders in this regard but no contractor came forward,” he said.
The Councillor further said that repair of bathrooms in the Ward, where people take bath after performing last rites of their dear ones, is also pending while the construction work of the Ward Office and new dispensary building is also incomplete for lack of funds.
He informed that the sewerage network has spoiled the Ward as manholes of sewerage get blocked and litter comes on road and streets creating problems for the passersby and locals.
“The agency concerned with the sewerage project broke lanes and roads and after doing their work they failed to repair the same properly due to which lanes are sinking and problems for the locals have increased manifolds,” the JMC Councillor said.
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 five years tenure but many development works are still miles away from completion and in some cases such works have not even yet started.
“Of the total requirement, only 60 per cent street lights have been provided in my Ward of which many have turned non-functional and the agency concerned to repair these lights pays no heed to the problem,” he maintained adding: “There is also problem of parking vehicles in the Ward while a retention wall at a slide prone area on Circular Road is yet to be raised.”
Sharma claimed that lane work in the Ward is only 50 per cent complete and the rest was not done due to poor funding and lack of coordination between JMC authorities and the Contractor concerned.
“While construction and repair work of drains is only 40 per cent complete in Ward Number 2, problems due to stray dogs is also there in the Ward as these canines spread litter and panic the elders and children,” he further said.
The JMC Councillor informed that there is only one park in the Ward which is well developed and there is also a public toilet on Circular Road near View Point to facilitate the public but there is no playground in the Ward.
“My Ward also has a pond at Ram Talai temple which shall be developed soon as it has now come under the Smart City project,” he said adding that cleanliness in the Ward is not proper because number of Safai Karamcharis in the Ward are not sufficient and against a requirement of 35 only 24 Safai Karamcharis are provided in the Ward.
Sharma said that fogging has been done in his Ward to safeguard the locals there from the ongoing dengue fever and residents of the Ward objected installation of Smart Meters in the Ward and demanded to correct the hanging wires and old-damaged poles first.
“Autos moving from door-to-door to collect garbage are doing a good job and for narrow lanes we have now pressed wheel-barrows into service to tackle the problem of garbage disposal,” he said adding that two Nallahs are there in the Ward but they cause no problem.
The Councillor said that maximum people in his Ward have made their Ayushman and Aadhar Cards while all the eligible people have got Voter and E-Shram Cards along with Domicile Certificates as camps for these were organized in the Ward.
“There is a Community Hall in the Ward at Ram Talai temple while there is a well also at Peer Kho temple which is well maintained,” he said.
Sharma also said that cases of thefts of iron gratings from the drains were also reported from the Ward and there are also some active addicts and peddlers in the area for which the police should take a cognizance.
“I helped many old age, widows and physically challenged people in the Ward to get pension but now the change in rules mandating these pensions exclusively for Below Poverty Line people is creating problems for others,” he continued.
Sharma said that many people from his Ward got benefit of PMAY scheme to build houses.
“My Ward is a heritage area and should be developed on that pattern as it has some portion of Mubarak Mandi complex and Rani Kaluri temple which needs repair while ancient Nar Singh temple there also needs repair,” the JMC Councillor said.
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