Road, sewage works take a backseat as Jalandhar MC beautifies walls, chowks

Even as the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, seems to have forgotten to accomplish its primary tasks, including ensuring well-paved roads, proper sewage system, streetlights and garbage disposal, the focus of the civic body seems to be more on undertaking other less important tasks.

The MC and the district administration have paid too much attention on getting iconic structures installed at various intersections and doing wall paintings on all government building boundaries across the city.

Ironically, the walls along the edges of Chandan Nagar Railway underbridge have got beautiful art work depicting the city's connect with ancient music but the passage itself often remains clogged with sewer.

All walls of the District Administrative Complex and courts complex too have got a fresh look with thematic depictions such as on promoting sports, girl education, etc. New installations have been put up across the city like Clock Tower at Geeta Mandir Chowk, gagar (earthen pitcher) for fountain at Guru Amar Dass Chowk and designer bow and arrow structure at Barbrik Chowk but no one has paid attention to the plight of commuters passing through Manbro Chowk in posh Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, road from Guru Ravidas Chowk to Model House, Nakodar Chowk to Kapurthala Road, road connecting Garden Colony and even past Mahavir Marg near Football Chowk.

Though road repair work has started in some parts, it may continue only for a week or so as the hotmix plants are expected to shut just as the winter season begins to peak.

Most recently, Aam Aadmi Party leaders are focusing on developing a modern food street on the roof of the parking lot outside Company Bagh. AAP Jalandhar Central halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli laid the foundation stone of the project on September 30 at an estimated cost of Rs 1.19 crore.

There is a plan to set up 36 shops, ice cream parlours with all designer lights and facilities to make it look attractive. Mayor Vaneet Dhir, who has recently returned from a foreign jaunt, wants it to come up in Dubai style. The project is being undertaken with funds from the National Health Mission. While this project is being planned and executed in an elaborate manner, officials have forgotten the plan to set up vending zones in 34 sites across the city and accommodate over 7,211 street vendors.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said, "It is incorrect to say that we have diverted our attention or lost focus on our primary responsibilities. We are working diligently to ensure that most roads are relaid by December 15. The delay in road work around Manbro Chowk and from Nakodar Chowk to Kapurthala Chowk is due to the sewage board authorities not completing proper compaction after laying pipelines for the surface water project. We are now getting the area dug up again and ensuring re-compaction is done,"

The Commissioner added, "We have got work orders for getting super-suction work done for cleaning of sewer systems. More focus shall be done in Jalandhar North wards where residents face more problems due to congested localities. We are also in the process of floating tenders for door-to-door collection of garbage, transportation and processing by November 25". He said the city beautification and food street projects are being done under various schemes of the government.

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Dubai-style food street

Most recently, Aam Aadmi Party leaders are focusing on developing a modern food street on the roof of the parking lot outside Company Bagh.

AAP Jalandhar Central halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli laid the foundation stone of the project on September 30 at an estimated cost of Rs 1.19 crore.

There is a plan to set up 36 shops, ice cream parlours with all designer lights and facilities to make it look attractive.

Mayor Vaneet Dhir, who has recently returned from a foreign jaunt, wants it to come up in Dubai style.

The project is being undertaken with funds from the National Health Mission.