Against a requirement of 50, only 25 Safai Karamcharis work in Bahu Fort area
Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 5: For lack of documentary proof for the houses they have been living in for decades, many poor and deserving people of slum areas in Ward number 47 of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) have failed to get the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yogna (PMAY).
This was informed by Sharda Devi, Councillor of the Ward, who also said that areas of her Ward include Kasim Nagar, Shiv Nagar, Bahu Lochan Chowk, Mahasha Mohalla, Kacha Talab, Pakka Talab, Centre Mohalla, Press Morh, Last Morh, Bawa Mohalla, some portion of Bazigar Basti, some portion of Ramdasi Basti and some portion of Rajiv Nagar.
In an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior, Sharda Devi, who politically belongs to BJP and is a first time Councillor claimed that there are 25 Safai Karamcharis in her Ward but equal number of more are needed for proper cleanliness in the Ward as the same is so far not up to the mark there.
“There are two Nallas in the Ward with construction and repair work of one completed while on the other it is underway,” she maintained adding: “Work of repair and construction of lanes and drains is almost complete in her Ward and many of the drains there have also been covered.”
The Councillor said that blacktopping of lanes and roads is almost complete in her Ward and Street Lights have also been installed in almost whole of the Ward but repair of the damaged one of these lights is over delayed.
Sharda Devi said that there is one Public Park in her Ward which has been developed with an expenditure of Rs. 8 lakh and facilities like open air gym and tiled path are there but high mast light in the Park is non-functional for the last many months while benches for sitting are also not there in the Park.
“Tendering has been done for developmental works on a pond in the Ward,” she stated.
The JMC Councillor claimed that there is no playground and no parking place for vehicles in her Ward but there are two Community Halls, one public toilet and 6 public bathrooms in the Ward.
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 been passed, many developmental works have not been completed yet while many of such works have even not seen the light of the day.
“Sewerage network has been laid in the Ward but connections have not been made with the houses,” she further said adding that water supply is good in the Ward but replacement of old pipes has not been done there.
The Councillor said that stray dogs have created a lot of problems in her Ward.
“These canines not only litter here and there but also bite people and chase two wheelers and have created a wave of terror among women, children and old age people,” she continued.
She further 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 the Ward.
“I helped about 300 people including widows, physically challenged and old age persons in my Ward to get pension but the newly introduced rule for these pensions exclusively to Below Poverty Line people is creating problem for others,” Sharda Devi said.
She said that reports of thefts involving iron grating from drains have been reported from her Ward and many drug addicts and peddlers are active in the Ward for which the police should take a cognizance.
The Councillor said that hanging wires and damaged poles are also there in her Ward for which no corrective measure has been taken so far by the concerned authorities.
“Autos collecting garbage by moving from door-to-door are doing a good job and after this service was introduced, garbage dumps have been reduced in the Ward,” she continued demanding one more such auto for the Ward.
Sharda Devi said that many areas of her Ward are haunted by monkeys and the simians create disturbance in daily affairs of locals of the area in many ways.
“There are three water coolers in my Ward and one of these is non-functional,” she said informing that there are encroachments over and near Nallahs in her Ward.
The Councillor said that house numbering has not been done in her Ward while many areas of the Ward are yet to be regularised and there are few vacant plots in the Ward which have become a place for dumping garbage.
She also said that her Ward needs seven more high mast lights.
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