Residents fume over potholed roads

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 8

The residents of Ward No. 51 to 55 have been grappling with dilapidated roads for long. 

  They say they were expecting the Congress-led state government to recarpet the roads besides taking up other development projects after assuming power, but the needful hasn’t been done so far.

Residents blame the previous SAD-BJP government’s 10-year tenure in the state for the plight of Patiala.

Most of the roads in Rajpura Colony, near bus stand, Nabha road to railway line stretch, Sheran-wala gate, Chhoti Baradari, Badungar road, Khalsa Colony, Baba Jiwan Singh Nagar and 22 No. Phatak  are either completely damaged or full of potholes. As a result, the roads during monsoon are seen inundated for days. Though these are among the prime areas of the city, nothing concrete has been done to solve the issue.

Poor water supply is another challenge. Water supply is inadequate, so most of the households have installed tubewells and water pumps to fulfill their needs.

In the absence of a mechanism for door-to-door garbage collection, people throw garbage in vacant areas, posing health hazard. Moreover, the garbage scattered hither and thither gets into the sewer lines, resulting in a blockage and waterlogging. The situation exacerbates during the rainy days.

Amritpal Kaur, area resident, said, “I reside on the second floor where pressure of the water supplied by the Municipal Corporation is very low. There are days when we do not receive water. Eventually, I had to install a water pump.”

Another resident, Shivani, said the shoddy planning of the sewerage system was a bane for the people residing in the wards.

“Sewer lines in many areas have developed cracks, resulting in the sewage overflowing on roads. It not only stink, but also hinders the flow of traffic. It may result in vector-borne diseases,” she added.

Vijay Kuka, Congress candidate from Ward No. 54, said broken roads and sewerage problem were the biggest issues the area had been facing. “Though we have highlighted the same many a times, nothing much was done by the previous SAD-BJP government. Ever since the Congress came to power, the government started addressing the grievances of the people. Once the Congress candidates form the MC House, all the problems will be addressed,” he added.