Roads a big let-down in Ward 20
At a time when the Punjab government is busy spending crores on Kabaddi World Cup leaving no stone unturned to make it a world-class event, there are basic issues where it has turned a blind eye.
At a time when the Punjab government is busy spending crores on Kabaddi World Cup leaving no stone unturned to make it a world-class event, there are basic issues where it has turned a blind eye.
Roads at the Ward 20 of East Mohan Nagar in the city are living example of the state government's tardy approach towards providing basic amenities to the people. According to residents, the roads are in pitiable condition since 2001 and despite several complain to the authorities concerned, their conditions remain unchanged; as if, all the requests have fallen on deaf ears.
The mostly-hit area is the residential area around Tahliwala Park behind the East Mohan Nagar gurdwara. "Although roads in other areas of East Mohan Nagar are in good shape, our area has been ignored since 2001,"laments LJ Singh, a retired engineer and a local resident. He further said, "It actually feels as if, whether these roads have ever existed here."
Another resident Deshbir Singh, a lawyer, says we don't call these roads as road, but "muddy paths". "Our homes are always covered by dust coming out of the muddy paths in front of our homes,"says Singh. "We don't feel that we live in the post-modern age, as we are far from even the basic facility,"says another resident Sarbjot Singh, a student.
There exist uncountable potholes on the roads that have caused many accidents. During rainy season, when the potholes are filled with rainwater, another sort of worry starts bothering the residents. "We face tough time during rainy days, when mosquitoes start breeding in the stagnant water of the potholes. Shockingly, there were reported many cases of malaria last season,"shares NK Puri, a resident, adding: "We have been covering the potholes our own, as our requests have always been ignored by the authorities concerned."
This reporter tried to contact the local councillor of the area many a times, but in vain. However, responding to the issue, municipal commissioner DPS Kharbanda said, "I'm aware of the problem, and in a few days the roads will be re-carpeted."
As he was also informed about the lackadaisical attitude of the area councillor, Ajit Singh Bhatia, whom residents made several requests to get the roads repaired; Kharbanda said as loans for the repair of the roads were not sanctioned by the central government, there was delay in the repair work. "However, the loans have been approved now, and now the residents will soon see the roads getting repaired,"he added.
Residents speak
I is painful that when we report our issues to the authorities concerned, they pay no heed
LJ Singh, a resident
It is surprising that the government has great money for events like kabaddi and no money for basic amenities
Sarbjot Singh, a student
The poor condition of roads for last many years simply evinces the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned
Ram Singh, a city resident
Official Speak
There was delay in the repair of the roads in the want of money. We have been waiting for the approval of a loan by the central government. Since it has been approved now, the roads will be repaired soon
DPS Kharbanda, municipal commissioner