Heaps of garbage, damaged lanes in Ward 62
Govind Sharma
JAMMU: Providing clean surroundings and good lanes & drains is a big challenge before Rekha Manhas, Corporator of Ward 62, as all internal roads as well as lanes & by-lanes of the Ward are completely damaged while the heaps of garbage are lying on vacant plots due to lack of garbage bins in the area.
The Ward mainly comprised of a large part of Chinore, some lanes of Durga Nagar, Laxmipuram, Gujjar Mohalla and Roop Nagar Housing Colony. In upper areas of Chinore and Laxmipuram, many poor families are living, some of them in tin sheds, and they are deprived of basic amenities and various welfare schemes initiated by the Government due to illiteracy and ignorance.
“All lanes and by-lanes of the Ward, particularly in Laxmipuram, are totally damaged. There is not even a single garbage bin in the area except on main Bantalab road so vacant plots have turned into dumping station, which invites insects, stray dogs and mosquitoes, besides presenting an ugly look,” Kamla Rani of Laxmipuram said.
Naseeb Singh Bahu of the same locality said that the drain in front of his house has blocked completely and no Safai Karamchari is ready to clean it as there is a big power transformer above the drain. He said in every Monsoon season, the water from the drain enters into his house and damage articles but the authorities are not ready to see his sufferings.
Water supply is also a grave issue in the Ward with many people complained of getting water supply on alternate days and that too for only few minutes. “Now-a-days we are getting water supply on alternate days but in summer, we have to wait for days together for water and our taps generally remain dry”, Rajinder Kumar of Chinore said, adding, they have to meet their water requirement by arranging private water tankers on payment basis.
People also complained that there are about 10 Safai Karamcharis but the cleanliness is limited to main roads and lanes while by-lanes remain filthy. Anita Singh of Chinore said that she never saw any Safai Karamchari in the interior areas while Shamsher of Laxmipuram said that there are two parks in the area but they have been turned into ‘jungle’ as there is no one to look after them.
Varun of Upper Roop Nagar Housing Colony said that despite getting scavenging charges, Safai Karamcharis are not visiting the area regularly with the result that drains remained choked for days together while heaps of garbage are lying here and there. In absence of garbage bins, people throw house wastage in vacant plots while most of the street lights in lanes and bye-lanes are not functional.
“The Colony was developed in 1986-87 with the objective of making it a model colony of the city but instead till date it has been deprived of basic facilities. There is no proper drainage system, no shopping mall and no public transport facility”, Rakesh Kumar said, adding even to purchase a pocket of biscuit they have to go to Bantalab market and it becomes difficult for those who have no personal conveyance.
Corporator of the Ward, Rekha Manhas of the BJP when contacted said that there are many people living below poverty line in her Ward and she wants to uplift their standard of living by ensuring that Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and others welfare schemes of the Government reach them.
On sanitation system of the Ward, the Corporator said that she has taken up the matter with Municipal authorities and the work has already begun for de-silting and cleaning of drains. Regarding damaged lanes & by-lanes, she said that work has already been approved for tiling of these lanes and soon the work will be started.
Speaking about her priorities, Rekha Manhas said that she wants to open an Anganwari centre in Laxmipuram as there is none in the locality. Besides, she wants to start mini-bus service for Upper Roop Nagar Housing Colony and open a Self Employment Training Institute in the Ward for women, where they can get free training in stitching, beauty & make-up, etc.
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