Border belt village Sarai Amanat Khan, a picture of neglect

Our Correspondent

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Tarn Taran, February 12

Sarai Amanat Khan village, situated just 4 km from the Pakistan borrder, has been facing acute civic problems like shortage of drinking water, poor garbage management, broken roads, including the firni (road passing around the village), lack of cleaning of the village ponds from silt, drainage of the waste and rainwater, encroachment on the common land, poor condition of the link road and the streets etc, making the life of the residents troublesome.

The village has its special importance as it is situated on the famous Sher-Shah Suri Marg, which had been used from Delhi to Lahore by the then rulers. The village has a population of around 4,000. The village was “serai” (for staying purpose), used by the Mughal rulers’ army. This serai was built by Emperor Akbar and Jahangir. The residents said due to the neglect by government representatives and the administration, the residents had been facing acute civic problems.

Kabal Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Baljit Singh, Pargat Singh and others residents said the major part of the common land of the village had been encroached upon by some influential people, reducing the area of the ponds and blocking the drainage of the waste water. They also said that in the rainy season, water remained stagnant on the paths in the village. Two of the village ponds were situated close to the houses of the poorer sections, creating nuisance for others. Residents Karaj Singh and Arjun Singh said the condition of the village link road and the streets too was creating trouble for the residents, saying 30 per cent population had not been given the facility of clean drinking water. Garbage can be seen at different places on road sides.

The residents said that recently a garbage dump has been erected outside a residential area of the village, but as no sweeper had been arranged, making the dump was of no use.

The drain passing through the village was creating more trouble for the residents, which has not been cleaned for decades. On the main road to Attari, the road has been encroached by shopkeepers by keeping building material. Residents said the foul smell due to the open drain was not only giving out air pollution but was a health hazard too. Harjap Singh of the village said the drug menace was a more serious matter in the village.

He said in the the last two years, more than 10 youths had died due to drugs.

MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal said all problems were in his notice already. He said development works in the village were going on a war-footing . He said the work on the drain had already been initiated and it would be made pucca soon which must give big relief to the residents. The MLA added that the streets too are renovated. However, the removal of the silt and cleaning of the village ponds were yet to be done. He also agreed that despite all efforts, the common land of the village had not been vacated as yet and he had issued strict instructions to the officials of the Panchayat Department in this regard. He said the work on the garbage dump had been competed recently and it would be made functional soon. The MLA said all problems would be resolved soon.