Civic problems persist in Jammu, people suffer

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 15

Even nine months after the urban local bodies elections, Jammu city grapples with municipal problems and no change is visible on the ground.

Though the corporators, under the leadership of mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, claim to be championing the cause of people by providing them all civic amenities, on the ground, the situation has not changed.

There is no headway in waste management or sewage disposal plans. Small works such as installing lights on electricity poles in various areas, providing dustbins, carrying out sanitation works and beautification of the city have also suffered.

Instead, illegal encroachments have increased as most of the shops in all main markets of the city use footpaths to display their wares.

As the markets are congested, vehicles can be seen parked on the roadside. There have also been reports of illegal ticketing.

Mayor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Chander Mohan Gupta, while talking to The Tribune, shifted the entire onus on the incumbent administration, saying that despite having an elected local body to take care of all civic problems, the government’s ignorance was causing great hardships.

“The frequent administrative reshuffle in the corporation is a major concern. Every two months, the administration changes the Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner, which is unfortunate. Three commissioners have been changed so far. There is no stability in the corporation,” Gupta said.

He said despite repeated reminders and demand for filling vacant posts, no action had been taken. Since 1980, many employees have retired but the vacancies have not been filled, he said.

“Along with the acute shortage of manpower, non-release of funds to the urban local bodies is a major impediment to addressing the civic problems. Whatever is being done to keep the city clean and healthy is only with the personal efforts of the corporators. Most of them are spending from their own pockets and have been waiting for the release of funds,” said the mayor.