Nothing is concrete in ward No. 78, except ‘the remote area feeling’

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 16

For residents of Shiv Nagar and New Guru Nanak Nagar dwelling in ward No. 78 is like living in a remote area. The surroundings with kutcha roads can make anyone feel the same, especially if the paths haven’t got concreted in 15 years.

The area residents, while sharing their problems, said that not even a single road here is concrete even after the colonies came into existence 15 years ago. During rains, the areas become muddy and slippery making life more difficult.

The commuters expressed that because of this situation water accumulates outside their houses, becoming a safe haven for mosquitoes. It could result in contraction of dangerous diseases. Crossing these roads to visit Maqsudan Sabzi Mandi and Wariana has become difficult for people.

Pawan Kumar, one of the residents of Shiv Nagar area, said he had been living there for the past several years but the issue still remains the same. “It becomes problematic for the residents here to commute without losing balance. The new entrants from other areas to the colonies find it more difficult to maintain their balance,” he said.

Sanjay Gupta, another resident who runs a small business in the area, said, they now felt that there was no use raising the matter again. “It seems as if people here have convinced themselves that no matter what they say, they will have to live in the same condition,” he said.

As per the information, estimates for both the areas have been made. Jagdish Samrai, councillor of the ward, said, he never had to work so hard for getting other works done for other areas but this was really a painstaking task. “I am not going to stop. I am taking up the matter with the MLAs and working hard to find a solution and just like other facilities were provided, the problems of these areas shall be resolved soon,” he said, adding, “the estimate of the construction of the roads has already been made and the talks are also going on with the MLAs to kickstart the project.”

He said an estimate of around Rs72 lakh has been made for the roads in New Guru Nanak Nagar, while for Shiv Nagar approximately Rs80 lakh has been reserved.

While New Guru Nanak Nagar area falls under Jalandhar West Constituency, MLA Sushil Rinku, Shiv Nagar is under MLA North Constituency Bawa Henry. “The plan is prepared. Tenders will be floated and concrete roads will be constructed soon,” he said.

Rinku said the work on roads of Guru Nanak Nagar area has already began, the work on New Guru Nanak area will be started at the earliest. “The area is huge. So, first we have covered the Guru Nanak Nagar area, now, we will get funds for New Guru Nanak Nagar too,” he added.

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