Amritsar West: Drug abuse ails Cong bastion

PK Jaiswar

THE Amritsar West constituency (reserved), a Congress bastion, is plagued by rampant drug abuse, unemployment and rising crime. Post Covid pandemic, the problems have aggravated.

The electorate says political leadership, which makes several promises in the run-up to the elections, has failed to take measures for the revival of the industry that can generated jobs.

The Amritsar West segment was once a prosperous industrial hub of the holy city.

Ratan Singh Randhawa, a farmer leader who lives in the Ghanupur area, says: “The government has nothing to show on the development front. Take the example of the 2-km stretch from Chheharta to Baba Darshan Singh dera. It has been lying in a pitiable condition for decades. Sewerage was another problem. Since authorities failed to address the problem, residents pooled in money and got the sewerage cleaned.”

Amarjit Singh Asal, CPI secretary, said: “Slum areas, including Kot Khalsa and Naraingarh, lack basic amenities. The drug abuse plagues areas such as Putlighar, Kot Khalsa and Chheharta.”