This area has been left untouched by development

Gagandeep Singh

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 5

A majority of the residents of Ward Number 17 here have been leading an underprivileged and marginalised life.

Residents in some areas, including Kazi Mandi, New Ajit Nagar and Guru Gobind Singh Avenue, are living in small houses with very poor civic amenities.

The Kazi Mandi locality of the ward has a considerable number of Madarasi community. The locality was once infamous as the drug capital of the city. However, the situation is said to be better now.

The ward is headed by an Indian National Congress (INC) councillor, Palani Appan of Madarasi descent. As far as infrastructural development of the ward is concerned, it seems to have been put on the back burner. Since the councillor belongs to the opposition party, this may be one of the reasons that development in the area has been far from satisfactory.

A visit to the ward reveals that most of the localities had got step-motherly treatment as far as developmental projects were concerned. There have been several developmental issues that are yet to be solved in the ward particularly in Kazi Mandi, Guru Gobind Singh Avenue, Thakur Singh Colony, Bhim Nagar and New Ajit Nagar.

These localities of the ward seem to have been ignored completely when it comes to development. The failure of sewer system and broken roads have been causing a major inconvenience of the residents. The roads in the said localities appear to have never been constructed.

Residents alleged that a visitor to area had recently met with an accident and got his leg fractured due to knee-deep potholes on a road. Many said the clogged sewer has made their life a living hell.

Infrastructure development

As pointed above, a majority of the localities of the ward have been ignored completely as far as infrastructural development is concerned. The condition of the roads in the said localities has deteriorated over a period of time.

The sewer system in most of the localities of the wards has either not been constructed or is clogged that has been spreading diseases. Many of the localities have been filled with filthy water that has made the life of residents miserable.

There is a huge garbage dump near the Domoria over bridge, which spreads unpleasant smell in the nearby localities.

Residents said the MC-employed sanitation workers were least bothered to keep the area clean.

The lack of street-lights in some localities of the ward has increased the crime rate in the area. Since some of the areas were infamous for drug pedalling, it was essential to keep surveillance in the area.

As far as the availability of green space in the ward is concerned, the parks have a dearth of basic infrastructure, including seating arrangements, landscaping, lighting and other amusement stuff. Residents said they had never seen a properly developed park in their area. Due to lack of proper playgrounds, children use parks as playgrounds. In the densely populated areas, well-developed parks play a significant role.

Apart from this, there was not even single government school in the ward. Residents said they were forced to send their children to the school far from their homes.

Water supply remains disrupted in most of the localities. The areas where water supply is functional are being supplied unhygienic water.

Residentspeaks

Karishna said no development had taken place in their locality so far. Sewers remain clogged most of the time. The condition gets worse in the rainy season. Sanitation workers of the Municipal Corporation hardly visit the area to clean the streets.

The condition of roads is pathetic. No construction work has been done in the past few years. Unpleasant smell from open garbage dumps and clogged sewers rules most of the localities.

Gulshan Singh said the street in front of his house remains filled with dirty water due to clogged sewer in the locality. His children had got sick due to the same. The situation has been the same for the past some years. “We are unable to eat food properly. Our life has been a hell. No one is ready to listen to us,” he added.

Sanjeev said street-lights had been causing numerous issues in the area. He said the areas where street-lights had been installed were of 70-watt bulb at the height of 25 feet, which don’t work properly.

Councillorspeak

In his defence, councillor Palani Appan said since he belongs to the opposition party, the Municipal Corporation has been reluctant to issue funds. No funds have been issued since I have been the councillor of the ward.

Despite several requests to the MC Mayor, nothing has been done to develop the infrastructure of the ward. Consequently, the area has worn a bad look.

Only one dispensary

There is only one dispensary in the area, which is hardly visited by the doctor concerned. Despite several complaints to the authorities concerned, nothing has been done.

There is no school in the ward. The issue has been raised in the house, too, but to no avail.

Expectations

Residents of the ward want the sewerage system and roads to be taken into consideration while launching development projects here. They have also been looking forward to getting street-lights installed in their respective localities. In most of the areas, there is no park available at all, which is one of major demands of the residents.

The residents want the supply of clean and hygienic water to be made compulsory.

Localities fall in the ward

The localities in the ward are including Ajit Nagar, Daulat Puri, Kazi Mandi, Bhim Nagar, Santoshi Nagar, Surya Enclave, New Ajit Nagar, Amrik Nagar, New Amrik Nagar, New Gandhi Nagar, Guru Gobind Singh Avenue, Power House, Thakur Singh Colony and Kapoor Colony.

Population of ward: 38,400

Voters: 11,800

Male Voters: 56 per cent

Female Voter: 44 per cent

Money spent on developmental projects last year: Rs 21 lakh