18 years on, basic amenities elude Maharaja Ranjit Singh Avenue residents

Eighteen years have passed since Maharaja Ranjit Singh Avenue colony was developed by the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT), but basic amenities elude its residents. “We paid huge amounts to purchase plots in the colony. Now, we are left to fend ourselves,” say colony residents.

Residents alleged that there was no proper sewage disposal system, no arrangements to maintain sanitation in surroundings, no good roads and parks in the avenue. Deepak Hans, president of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Resident Welfare Society, said, “The colony’s sewerage system is in a deplorable state, with manholes always overflowing with sewage. Since the monsoon season has set it, our lives have become nightmarish.”

Residents said streetlights were not functioning and miniature circuit breaker (MCB) boxes had exposed electrical wires, posing a risk to their lives. They rued that roads were broken and none of colony’s parks was accessible to them.

They said despite repeated complaints to the Jalandhar Improvement Trust, no action was taken to improve colony’s condition. “We get nothing, but only assurances that our issues will be addressed. The Trust’s irresponsible attitude has caused significant distress. After the SAD and Congress governments failed to resolve our problems, we had high hopes from the AAP government. But in the past three and a half years, the ruling dispensation has failed miserably on the development front, which may impact its upcoming election results,” residents said.

Residents have demanded that JIT officials immediately take action to address the colony’s infrastructure issues and provide basic amenities to them. Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Chairperson, JIT, said, “I know that residents of this colony have been suffering. I was busy in Ludhiana West bypoll. Now that the election is over, I will divert all my attention towards starting development works in JIT colonies.”