Councillor raises concern over 'poor streetlights, garbage dumps'

The functioning of the Phagwara Municipal Corporation has come under sharp criticism from Ward No. 20 Councillor and president of the Block Congress, Phagwara Urban, Manish Prabhakar.

Highlighting the deteriorating conditions in the city, Prabhakar has alleged that most streetlights remain non-functional, making the city plunge into darkness at night. He further claims that the MC does not even have a contractor for the repair of these lights, resulting in a serious security concern for pedestrians who fear robbery on deserted roads after sunset.

Along with the issue of broken streetlights, Prabhakar also raised concerns over the increasing number of garbage dumps in densely populated areas. He has stated that almost every neighborhood is plagued with temporary garbage dumping spots, causing severe inconvenience to residents and pedestrians. These dumps near religious places, parks and schools are becoming a health hazard, with unbearable foul smells polluting the air.

He demanded the immediate removal of these dumps from residential areas and urged municipal sanitation workers to collect wet and dry waste from households and transport it to a recycling plant located outside the city.

“Are the garbage collection vehicles of the MC meant for mere display?” he asked.

Referring to Indore's successful waste management model, Prabhakar suggested that the government and Phagwara MC should adopt similar measures to make Phagwara a garbage-free city. Taking a dig at the ruling party's claims of beautifying the city, he sarcastically remarked that with heaps of garbage in the daytime and complete darkness at night, the Bhagwant Mann-led government and its leaders might need special glasses to admire the so-called beauty of Phagwara. MC Commissioner Dr Akshita Gupta said the entire steps are being taken to redress the problems of the residents.