Row over community service

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 12

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar’s E block residents have been at loggerheads over serving drinking water and langar at the park of the colony. Tension has flared a couple of times over an almirah kept at the park to store utensils which are used to prepair and serve langar.

Warring groups have filed a number of complaints with officials of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and the Commissioner of Police. A group of senior citizens of the colony under a banner of the SBS Nagar Senior Citizens Welfare Association (Block E) have kept an almirah in the park to store water cooler and other items to be served in langar as a part of community service.

However, the SBS Nagar Residents Welfare Association (RWA), which has been entrusted with maintenance of the park by the LIT, alleged that senior citizens were creating nuisance and have encroached upon a part of the park by erecting a canopy.

Chairman of SBS Nagar Senior Citizens Association Pran Nath Bhatia said, “A month ago, the LIT officials removed the almirah and other articles under the pressure from the RWA. As a result, we were forced to file a complaint with the police and the LIT.

Bhatia said, “On the intervention of senior officials, including the Superintending Engineer of the Trust Sukhbir Singh Jakhar, senior citizens replaced some of the items in the park.”

“However, after senior citizens dispersed, some functionaries of the RWA removed the almirah and dumped it on the road. Religious books kept in the almirah were thrown in the open,” alleged Bhatia.

On the other hand, president of SBS Nagar RWA Dr Vijay Sareen refuted the allegations and charged a group led by senior citizens of talking loudly, using foul language and cracking vulgar jokes while sitting in the park.

LIT Superintending Engineer Sukhbir Singh Jakhar said, “I have advised both groups to resolve the matter amicably. All the residents in the colony should coexist in an atmosphere of peace.” He said, “If the situation worsens than they would be left with no other option but to call the police.”