Sorry state of affairs at Dhanas village

Ishrat S Banwait

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 15

While some part of it is now called Sector 14 (West), Dhanas village is struggling to become a town without caring for its villagers. Spread over 723 acres, the village is choked with 15,000 people. Migrants have outnumbered villagers with four colonies that are under the MC. The villagers don’t want it to be included in MC limits as they feel that conditions of villages under the MC are much worse.

Sarpanch Kuljit Singh is fed up of the deaf authorities who do the paper work, but don’t implement it. The village has failed to catch up with its own growth and so have the authorities. Sewers are choked and streets are full of vehicles. Schools are overcrowded and illegal constructions are spread across the village. The chaos is hard to get hold of.

The residents feel that the migrants have invaded their village and caused problems that never existed before. The village has four colonies - Milk colony, Aman colony, Chaman colony and Ambedkar colony. Theft and other crimes are on the rise and the village doesn’t have a police station or beat box for itself. It had one, which has now been converted into an anganwadi whose condition is despicable. Lack of cleanliness in the old and battered building makes one wonder why it was chosen to take care of children.

Shortage of water and electricity is persistent in all seasons as the village has just two tubewells and old wiring. The sarpanch himself struggles to get enough water for his house. He claims to have written to the authorities a number of times, but all in vain. Power outages are a daily feature as the load of the village is very high. According to residents, the Electricity Department provides more excuses than electricity.

The illegal marble market in the sector has increased the woes of the residents. They have led to an increased electricity and water load on the village, which already struggles for it. The authorities have tried to raze the market in the past, but were unsuccessful due to stiff resistance by the traders. Deputy Commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi, when enquired about the issue, said: “We will take legal action against these offenders. It is in process.”

The village has four government schools, which are overcrowded even after working in double shifts. Cleanliness suffers due to the lack of sweepers and the sarpanch is ready with numerous letters written by the school to the administration for the same. Grounds demand attention and students, quality of education. While many are forced to send their children to private schools, not everyone can afford them. Teachers blame the authorities and the authorities blame the population.

Such a village needs recreation, which is not available. The central pond is in a poor condition and awaits renovation. There is no playground and the village’s demand for converting the school ground into an open playground has been accepted, but awaits implementation. Residents of Milk colony face a tough time due to cattle that are tied on the street each day and parks and roads full of cow dung.