District administration helps Alipur village transform garbage dump into park

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 1

The district administration has transformed a garbage dumping ground into a beautiful park in Alipur village of the district under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

It is the second such park in the village which has been constructed under the MGNREGA scheme. Earlier, the park was developed on the stinky pond. The garbage dumping point was a major nuisance in the village and had become breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies, posing a health hazard.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Vishesh Sarangal, said funds worth Rs 4.54 lakh from the MGNREGA scheme spent on this transformation and work was completed a few days ago. He said the park had every facility present in a city park, including open gym, swings, slides, concrete benches and well-built pathway for the pedestrians, flowering plants and other traditional varieties of trees.

He said last year too, a park was established in the village over a stinky pond at a cost of Rs 6.67 lakh by the district administration under the MGNREGA scheme.

Sarangal added that the state government was committed to ensuring comprehensive development of villages and the administration has devised a comprehensive plan for giving impetus to the all-round development of villages.

Sarangal said under the campaign, several development works had been identified for villages which would be executed using money from the funds given by the Finance Commission, Rural Development Fund and others. He said due focus was also being laid on providing employment opportunities and livelihood support to the poorest people.