Need for cleanliness drive, sports facility, end to stray cattle menace : The Tribune India

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Reality check: Ward Number 4

Need for cleanliness drive, sports facility, end to stray cattle menace

JALANDHAR: The ward having the highest number of religious shrines in the city is struggling for cleanliness and liberation from the constant attack of stray animals.

Need for cleanliness drive, sports facility, end to stray cattle menace

A garbage dump in Gujja Peer Ward No. 4. Photos: Sarabjit Singh



Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 21

The ward having the highest number of religious shrines in the city is struggling for cleanliness and liberation from the constant attack of stray animals.

While there are 23 sanitation workers deployed in the ward to clean the public areas, a recent visit to the place presented the sorry state of affairs in the ward that is just opposite the Mayor’s ward No. 5.

“We have till date only heard about the implementation of the solid waste management system in our city, but never actually experienced it. In fact, the condition here got much worsened after its implementation as the sanitation workers had also stopped coming to work since the implementation of the project,” said Rupinder Singh, a resident of Kamal Park.

Another resident Amir Singh of the Preet Nagar area said the situation starts getting worse in the morning itself. “The ward boasts of having the maximum number of gurdwaras in the city. Around eight gurdwaras are situated only in and around the Preet Nagar area. The devotees who step out in the dark early morning first have to witness and spoil their feet in dogs’ litter, play “catch me if u can” game with the stray animals roaming wildly on the roads and then only reach any of the gurdwaras.

The 43-year-old councillor Bhagwant Prabhakar seems to be aware of problems being faced by residents of his area and also about the allegations levelled against him from time to time since he had taken over the charge from his wife Dimpy Prabhakar in 2012. He is been also surrounded by many controversies, including the scam of the Gujja Peer road, where he is said to have used iron rods against iron beams shown on papers. Also, he has been charged with using the cement to sand ratio as 1:24 against the prescribed 1:8 during the construction of the road. He has also been charged with renting out cranes and his men for a monthly rent of around Rs 7 to 8 lakh to the Municipal Corporation for lifting garbage from his area dumps.

Refuting all these charges, he said the opposition, for the past three years, had been trying to tarnish his image by fabricating such baseless charges against him, but has not succeeded to produce any concrete proof till date. “A new ward was chalked out from Ward No. 10, 15 and 16 in 2007. During that time, the civic amenities in the area were almost nil. I actually burnt midnight oil to get the things move at a faster pace,” said Prabhakar. He also said that since the time he and his wife took over in 2007, he had almost installed seven tube-wells in his ward.

Meanwhile, Mike Khosla of the INC who lost the elections against Prabhakar in 2012, has a different story to tell. “He has burnt the midnight oil to get things moving, but only for his profit. Presently also, the ongoing work of the footpath with interlocking tiles opposite KMV College is being done in night to keep the people in the dark. Which government contractor or men would construct at night?” asked Khosla. He further alleged that the tiles being used in the Rs 65-lakh foothpath project being used are from Prabhakar’s own company.

Most importantly, while there are three parks, there is not even a single sports centre activity centre in the ward. The children could not go out due to the shortage of parks and have no place near their home where they could at least do some physical training. Also since most of the schools in the area are private, they do not allow outside kids to play in their grounds.

Major allegations against the councillor

1. Earning Rs 7 to 8 lakh per month from the MC for lifting garbage from eight dumps in his area. Deployed cranes and his people to do the work.

2. Used substandard material on Gujja Peer Road. Used iron rods against the prescribed iron beam at every 20 feet. Also, used material (cement and sand) in 1: 24 ratio as against the prescribed 1: 8. The opposition has asked Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the case.

3. Constructing a footpath with inter-locking tiles from JMP factory to Transport Nagar with an approved budget of Rs 65 lakh. Using inter-locking tiles manufactured by his company.

4. Failed to bring out 23 sanctioned sweepers on roads to work.

CouncillorSpeak:

1. A councillor can never participate in any of the tendering process of the MC. The charges are baseless.

2. Iron beams are not used in the construction of roads. The contractor has only put iron rods on Guja Peer. Also, the allegation of using material 1:24 is false and is only being used in the prescribed ratio of 1:8. The opposition can ask the CBI to investigate the matter.

3. I do not have any company manufacturing interlocking tiles. The charges are baseless.

4. Sanitation is a big challenge in my area. Although I have 23 sanitation workers in my area, most of them do not report for work. So, many times, I have approached the MC to check their attendance, but to no avail. We are having litter scattered everywhere and stray animals roaming over them, endangering the life of the people moving on the road.

Sneak Preview: Ward No.4

Area councillor: Bhagwant Prabhakar

Qualification: BA in commerce (Doaba College: Jalandhar (1990 to 1993)

Total population: 30,000

Total No. of votes: 11000

Ward attraction: Highest number of gurdwaras in the city

Major civic issues: Cleanliness & water-logging in the Preet Nagar area

Need of the hour: To set up a mini sports/recreational centre for children

Unauthorised colonies : 8

Schools : 10

Parks : 3

Tube-wells: 7

Crime pockets: Shah Sikandar Road, Mai Khai Mohalla, Basti Bhure Khan

Sanitation workers: 23

Total colonies in Ward No. 4: 22

Amar Garden

• New Colony

• Kamal Park

• Aman Nagar

• Gobind Nagar

• New Gobind Nagar

• Basant Nagar

• New Basant Nagar

• Gujja Peer

• Kailash Nagar

• New Kailash Nagar

• Preet Nagar

• Sodal Road

• Basti Bhure khan

• Kusat Ashram

• Shah Sikander

• Devi Talab Tanda Road

• Mai Khai Mohalla

• Vishwakarama Colony

• New Aman Nagar

• New Basant Nagar

• New Preet Nagar

 

 

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