Urban Estate residents’ dharna over civic issues

Residents of the Urban Estate, Kapurthala, under the banner of the Urban Estate Welfare Society, today decided to hold a dharna on October 3 near the main entrance of the Urban Estate, Kapurthala.

The dharna, which will begin on 11 am, is being held for residents’ demands on various civic issues, including road repairs, stronger boundary walls, provision of streetlights, green belts, etc.

They said despite repeated representations and assurances over several years, their demands remained unfulfilled. No written assurance or timeline had been given by the authorities, leaving residents with no option but to protest, they added.

The major demands include repair and recarpeting of roads, along with white road markings for safety, community centre with proper maintenance and special discount, if charges are levied, sports complex for the youth and children, boundary walls to be strengthened and height increased, streetlights to be replaced and maintained, green belts to be allotted to society for upkeep and law and order to be strengthened by ensuring adequate police presence.

Residents acknowledged the cooperation of some JDA officials in public health and electrical works and also appreciated SSP Gaurav Toora for maintaining peace. However, they said no official has ever visited the Urban Estate to assess issues firsthand as files continued to move slowly in offices.

They also said ministers Aman Arora and Hardeep Singh Mundian had also heard their grievances and assured action, but ground-level implementation was pending.

The residents said their dharna will be peaceful, non-political, and aimed only at securing basic civic rights. If demands remain unfulfilled, the protest will continue.