Civic amenities a casualty in this area of the city

Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 30
Represented by several pockets for the poor and labour-class population, ward number 1 of the Municipal Corporation (MC) largely presents a picture of neglect.
Even as this ward falls at the entry point to the city from the Amritsar side, the authorities have not been considerate enough to at least ensure that the busy old GT Road passing through it gets re-carpeted on time.
A foundation stone laid on the road indicates that the work on the construction of the road and divider from Maqsudan to Bidhipur level crossing had been started in May 2010, but residents show that the divider had only been partially constructed and the road is lying badly potholed for the past two years. In fact, even the streetlight poles and bulbs on this road are missing, adding to the agony of the passersby.
“We really do not know where the Rs 3.76 crore has been spent,” said vendors at the Maqsudan vegetable market who cross the stretch daily. Area councillor Des Raj Jassal, however, tells that the road is now under a plan to be upgraded as six-lane instead of four-lane.
Another main road falling in the ward presents sequel to the story of neglect. A foundation stone at the entrance to Jinda Road indicates that the work had been started on November 18, 2011 but for the past three years, residents are being made to pass through the stony road, as the MC authorities got the bed laid but perhaps forgot to get the premix work done. The road also does not have any streetlights, compounding the problems of the residents.
Arpana Tewari, a young woman working with a private firm, said, “I often tend to get late on my way back from the office. When I am about to enter this road, I get scared as it is pitch dark and there are men standing around a liquor vend there. I call someone from my family and tell them to take me along.”
Slum development project
There are two slums falling in the ward which have been covered under the Centre’s Integrated Slum Housing Development Scheme. While an amount of Rs 23.5 lakh has been spent on the repair of 87 houses in Gurbachan Nagar, another grant of Rs 17.5 lakh has been spent on 26 houses in the Jinda locality. But the ground reality is different as many beneficiaries have said that they have not got complete instalments.
Inder Kaur of the Jinda locality said, “We got two out of four installments worth in the name of my mother-in-law Shanti Devi till about two years ago. We were given Rs 47,000 for the construction of a toilet and a kitchen, which we could get only half-done. We were to get more amount for the laying of ceiling which did not come. I got a temporary ceiling work of tin and wooden slabs done but water seeps in whenever it rains and damages our household items.”
Baljinder Singh’s house, too, is in dire straits. His family is forced to cook in the open on road as the work of his kitchen which he got started is lying half done. “I did not get funds as the authorities, after paying two installments, raised an objection that since my wife was no more, I could not get the grant owing to no woman beneficiary,” he said.
Tarsem Dutt, president of Jinda Colony, said, “Fulfilling just half promise of slum dwellers is a cruel joke with poor people, especially with those who have a temporary roof in harsh weather conditions.”
MC-run school also neglected
The MC has also not been considerate enough to take care of the plight of the poor children studying at its Government Primary School at Chak Jinda. The school has a significant strength of 191 children for the five classes. There are benches for only half of the children and the remaining have to sit on mattresses even in the cold weather. The rooms are dark and dingy and the staff has been paying power bills from their own salaries. There is no sweeper to clean the toilets, for which private men are hired by staff.
Sukhwinder Singh, who lives around the school, said, “The MC must arrange for proper benches and ensure that the classrooms and toilets are cleaned properly to ensure hygienic conditions for the students.”
Areas
Maqsudan Bye Pass, Mahasha Colony, Guru Ravidass Nagar, Anand Nagar, Janta Colony, Guru Nanak Nagar, Issa Nagar, Aman Nagar, Aara Mohalla, Surat Nagar, New Ravi Dass Nagar, Master Colony, Sant Vihar, Amrit Vihar, Angad Nagar, New Anand Nagar, Navjot Colony, Chak Jinda Pind, Ashok Vihar, Indira Colony, Saleempur Musalmana, Sarabha Nagar, Bank Colony, Gurbachan Nagar, Amandeep Avenue and Navnirman Janta Colony.