Poor infrastructure stalls Gohalwar’s growth

Gohalwar village, with a population of approximately 3,300 residents, continues to face significant challenges due to inadequate road and rail connectivity, along with other basic infrastructural issues. These issues remain major obstacles to the progress of the village.

Gohalwar holds historical and cultural significance, being associated with the sacrifice of the great Sikh warrior, Baba Deep Singh. Its location on the main road, connecting Amritsar and Tarn Taran, gives it strategic importance and the potential to grow into a developed settlement. Notable figures such as former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahampura (Shiromani Akali Dal) belong to Gohalwar village.

Even before the Partition in 1947, the youth of the village pursued education and succeeded in establishing respectable careers. Many residents, armed with higher qualifications, have secured jobs or settled abroad. Several families have also established successful businesses, taking advantage of the village's prime location on the main road. As a result, land in the area has become expensive, especially with entrepreneurs from towns like Amritsar setting up industrial units nearby.

The village has basic amenities like a government high school, a branch of Punjab & Sind Bank, a government health centre and a Powercom sub-division. However, residents such as Navdeep Singh, Dilbag Singh, Satnam Singh, Angrej Singh, Baljit Singh Khehra and others have voiced their concerns about persistent civic issues.

They complain of broken roads, the absence of proper drainage for domestic wastewater and a lack of clean drinking water. Travel to nearby cities becomes difficult due to the poor condition of the village's link roads, which makes vehicle movement troublesome, the villagers rue.

The residents say that due to the constant movement of vehicles along the village roads throughout the day, clouds of dust hover in the sky. The residents add that stagnant wastewater, which accumulates in the village at many points, emanates a foul smell and has become a major health hazard.

Water also accumulates in the village Co-operative Agriculture Service Society (CASS) complex because of the blocked drains.

Village Sarpanch Kashmir Singh says the village ponds overflow and emit a foul stench due to the lack of a proper drainage system. In a bid to manage the issue, he has personally requested nearby farmers to delay watering their paddy fields so that the pond water could be diverted there, allowing for de-silting with his own money.

Kashmir Singh adds that some development work have begun with grants of Rs 15 lakh from the Union Government and Rs 28 lakh from the Mandi Board. However, another major concern is the frequent road accidents on the main GT Road (Tarn Taran-Amritsar Road), which remains dangerous due to the absence of a four-lane highway. These accidents have caused numerous fatalities, sparking fear among the residents.

Although Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO laid the foundation stone for the road-widening project on February 2, 2024, the work has yet to begin. The project, estimated to cost Rs 70 crore, is eagerly awaited by the villagers who have been demanding its completion for decades.

Given its cultural heritage, economic potential, and strategic location, the residents of Gohalwar believe the village deserves to be upgraded to town status under the urban system. This change can help resolve many civic problems and provide improved facilities, paving the way for further development and prosperity.