Khemkaran: Amenities almost on borderline in this seat

Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, February 17

Khemkaran Vidhan Sabha is a border-area constituency, where routine facilities are almost on the borderline to say the least.

Residents here face acute drinking water problem and farmers, too, have no access to canal water, as several villages lie at

the tail-end.

Sand mining and illicit liquor distillation is rampant in the area. Not only this, the area is a hot bed for power thefts. No official has the guts to take action against those indulging in drawing power illegally.

As the Khemkaranarea is far from Tarn Taran, Amritsar and other cities, residents have to travel long distance to avail several facilities.

A section of farmers have to face hardship in harvesting their crop, which is across the fence. A number of villages are also notorious for smuggling from across the border.

Incidents of cheating or copying during exams, especially during the Punjab School Education Board examination have also been reported in the past from here.

There are several top officials in the state Education Department, who have said to have used their influence and helped their kids in securing good marks for their ‘better future’. Job opportunities for eligible youths, too, are nowhere to be seen in the area.

‘Bus stand lies abandoned’

More than three years have passed since the bus stand building was almost complete at Bhikiwind, but no one is ready to take its possession. Adda fee can generate revenue but the bus stand rooms are being used as toilets or bathrooms. Addicts, too, take advantage of the situation at night. Passengers come to board the bus, but most of these leave without entering the bus stand and residents suffer. It took about 15 years to complete the construction of the bus stand. Initially, the possession of land to be acquired was a problem. —Jugraj Singh, president, Mini Bus Operators’ Union, Bhikhiwind

‘No medical officer at chc’

The Community Health Centre (CHC), Khemkaran, is the only health facility in the state, where not even a single Medical Officer (MO), a dentist or even AYUSH doctor, including Senior Medical Officer has been deputed. Though the Health Department made some make-shift arrangements by deputing doctors on deputation from nearby health centres, it createed more problems. Two more Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are associated with the CHC Khemkaran in Rajoke and Valtoha, but no MO is there as well. It is a serious lapse on the part of the government. The situation turns serious at times, especially during delivery cases. The mini-PHCs associated with the CHC Khemkaran, too, are facing shortage of medical officers. —Surjit Singh, Resident of Bhura Kona village

‘Reschedule bus timetable’

Amritsar is just 60 km away from Khemkaran and the Roadways bus takes two-and-a-half hours to cover the distance as passengers board or alight after every kilometre as the bus frequency is less. Residents especially traders, shopkeepers and others prefer commuting on their two-wheelers to save their time. It is the main reason for accidents on the route. Residents have been demanding for rescheduling of the time table of the buses, but to no avail. —Sarwan Singh, a resident of Machhike village

‘Rattoke sans atta-dal scheme’

As many as 300 families of Rattoke village are deprived of the Atta-Dal scheme for the last five years since the Congress government came to power. The beneficiaries have been moving from pillar to post, but there is no one to listen to their grievances. There is no arrangement for disposal of waste and rainwater. Many villages have a similar issues. —Sahib Singh, A resident of Rattoke village