Parties making tall promises, but ground realities different

The MC elections are here and so are the promises! Recently, AAP released its manifesto for the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation in which the party talked about reforming and restoring the sports infrastructure of the city, besides various other promises.

This brings the attention towards the sports hub project under the Smart City programme. Ironically, the project worth Rs 77.70 crore that was announced five years ago has not even started. Under the project, the Burlton Park was supposed to be converted into a huge sports hub.

Recently, DC Himanshu Aggarwal had directed the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation, PWD and Horticulture Department to complete the construction of pavilion, locker rooms, changing rooms and washrooms at cricket stadium by January 2025. During a site visit a month ago, accompanied by Municipal Commissioner Gautam Jain, Dr Aggarwal had instructed the contractor to meet the deadline, stressing that any delay would be unacceptable. He said he would closely monitor the project’s progress on a daily basis. He underscored the need for giving this biggest sports complex feel and vibe of being a sports hub of the city.

Despite all this, no headway has been made in the project.

Apart from this, the supply of clean drinking water 24X7 for all residents is also the key promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the manifesto. One of the major projects under the Smart City is surface water project which is worth Rs 400 crore.

Commenced in 2020, the project is still far away from completion, though the deadline is March 2025. The project aims to change the drinking water supply source from groundwater to surface water so as to conserve groundwater resources as much as possible and provide 24×7 canal-based clean and treated water supply. As per information, until now, Rs 300 crore has been utilised.

A water treatment plant with the 275 MLD capacity is being set up at Jaganpur village in Adampur. Five water reservoirs will be set up in Surya Enclave, Dhilwa, Model Town, Burlton Park and Focal Point. Mild steel underground pipes are also being laid. In the city, 97 km of pipes have to be laid, of which 49 km has been covered and the pipeline has been laid from Adampur village to Dhogri road.

According to officials, if may take another year for the project to get completed.