Residents pin hopes on poll, yet again

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16

Like always, residents have great hopes from the upcoming panchayat elections.

Issues concerning improper drainage system, ponds, broken streets, unsafe drinking water, lack of streetlights among others are common in various villages.

In several villages, including Salempur, Walipur, Talwandi Nau Abad, Gaunspur and others, the issue of Buddha Nullah reigns supreme. Villagers want the upcoming representatives to raise their issues with the government for early redressal.

A number of families get drinking water either from a government hand pump (over 350-ft deep) or through direct water supply pipeline at Salempur village. Residents in Salempur and several other villages located near the banks of the polluted Buddha Nullah have stopped using hand pumps as they say that the upper level of the groundwater has contaminated due to pollution in Buddha Nullah.

Residents want that the upcoming panchayat members raise their issues with the government and ensure development. A villager at Salempur said: “As many as 13 people suffered from hepatitis last year. Still many poor people can’t afford to install water purifiers. We want the government to ensure safe drinking water supply and conduct water sampling in routine. Moreover, there is a need to find out a permanent solution to Buddha Nullah.”

Boota Singh of Salempur said: “Sewerage is available in only selected parts of the village and it should be laid in the rest of the village as well. There is a need to install streetlights in our village as these are being installed in several other villages. Roads, too, need to be repaired.”

Another resident at Birmi village told that a drain outside the village has not been cleaned for a long time. Even small open drains have choked due to trash that keeps collecting. Residents also want the upcoming panchayat members to ask the department concerned to ensure timely testing of water being supplied to houses.