E-Paper
Rain washes off development claims of SAD ahead of polls
Even as several hoardings of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), claiming development and making promises of even four-laning of roads linking all cities (see photo) in three years, have come up all over the state in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections, but the waterlogged roads in the city, after rain on Monday morning, told a different story of the real situation on the ground.
Even as several hoardings of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), claiming development and making promises of even four-laning of roads linking all cities (see photo) in three years, have come up all over the state in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections, but the waterlogged roads in the city, after rain on Monday morning, told a different story of the real situation on the ground.
The SAD hoardings, with pictures of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, making tall claims about development and promises of further development in coming years have been put up at several public places, including near the Mini-Secretariat and bus stoppages across the city.
The hording in the picture makes a tall claim on the development of roads, but the state government, during its two terms, has failed to provide a proper drainage system to flush out the rain water from roads, that often get flooded even after minor rainfall, making life of the people miserable during a rainy as they are seen dragging their vehicles on flooded roads. Some parts of the city also get delinked.
The area around the busy Mini- Secretariat building and the power house road were the worst affected due to rain as roads remained waterlogged throughout the day making it tough for the general public and the employees to reach the offices in the building. People, particularly scooterists, were seen struggling to cross roads by dragging their vehicles. The city recorded 15.4 mm rain on Monday.
Meanwhile, additional district election officer Sonali Giri, when asked about the installation of hoardings, said that the administration has already clarified the matter with regard to placing of hoardings and the SAD hoardings have been put up at the points fixed for advertisements by the municipal corporation.
"These advertisement points have been auctioned to private agencies. The private agencies will charge from the political parties in accordance with the rate fixed and expenses on theses will be added to the expenditure of the political party concerned," she said.
