MC fails to quench residents’ thirst

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 15

The condition of the Ward No. 3 here belies the state government’s claim of spending crores on development of the city.

Strange it may sound but almost half of the area does not have access to safe drinking water. Frustration among residents of the ward can be gauged from the fact that from the next month, they plan to go on a hunger strike to get a basic civic facility like water.

The ward consists of Gagandeep Colony, Shimla Colony, Laxmi Colony, Amrit Vihar, Jaswal Colony, Vishal Colony, Nanda Colony, Royal Estate etc. There are about 11,000 voters in the ward.

Residents deprived of drinking water

Perhaps, this is the only ward in the city where half of the number of residents has no access to safe drinking water. The residents have been raising hue and cry over the issue for long, but authorities have failed to provide any respite to them. Seeing no other option and after gradually losing patience, the residents, along with Congress councillor Varinder Sehgal, have decided to go on a hunger strike from the next month.

Getting water through illegal means

Strange but true, the residents in the ward are being supplied water through “illegal” means. Private players are providing them with water at a monthly charge ranging between Rs 200 and Rs 400 depending on the area.

Confirming this, the area councillor said it was true. Private players are supplying water in the ward and they had even laid pipelines.

When asked if it was legal, Sehgal replied, “No, it is not legal, but what can we do when the Municipal Corporation turns a deaf ear to our plight? At least, the residents are getting water now. The moment the MC supplies water in the area, residents will say no to the illegal arrangement.”

Just 26 safai karamcharis for the entire ward

The wards, which are comparatively in a bad shape, need more staff and more facilities to come on a par with the ‘posh’ wards. Unfortunately, the authorities concerned too seem to be meting out a “step-motherly” treatment to them. Most of the wards in the city get enough safai karamcharis maintain cleanliness. Ward No. 3 has just 26 safai karamcharis in comparison to almost double or more in many other wards.

Residents said most of the areas “stink” for want of proper sanitation.

Heaps of garbage could be seen in vacant plots in the ward. There is no cleanliness. Stray dogs/cattle rule the areas. Unhygienic conditions pose threat to the health of residents.

No public park

Strange it may sound but there is no public park in the entire ward. Residents are deprived of green areas in the ward.

Residentspeak

Nobody cares for Aam Aadmi

There is not a single public park in the entire ward. If there is no land available, provide us with enough greenery. But nobody cares for the common man’s plight here. —Inderjit Singh

Ward has nothing to boast of

The ward hardly has anything to boast of. The worst thing is that the residents battle the scarcity of drinking water. The roads are in a very bad shape. Lifting of garbage is poor. —Jagdish Raj

Councillorspeak

Development eludes ward

It becomes very difficult to face the residents, especially when they fail to get basic amenities. Residents are not getting safe drinking water; we do not have enough number of safai karamcharis to clean the ward. Perhaps it is one of the undeveloped wards in the city. —Varinder Sehgal, Congress councillor