Constituency Tarn Taran

Slug: Ear to the ground

Lack of civic amenities raises stink

Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, November 28

People in the constituency are peeved at the stink raised by Kasur Nullah in heart of Balmiki Colony here. A group of women comprising Nimmo, Parveen and Sheela, say their relatives, including daughters married outside, hesitate to visit them due to the unbearable stench.

Kishan Lal, a resident, says: “Months back, we questioned our MLA when he had visited the colony. We are still awaiting his reply.”

“We neither have clean drinking water nor sewerage. Local doctors confirm the stomach ailments among a large number of local residents are due to unclean drinking water. Some residents have installed submersible pumps, but the majority can’t afford these,” says Daljit Singh, another resident.

“The government allowed haphazard growth in the town. We don’t have adequate parks for local residents or playgrounds for our children. Mismanaged traffic especially at Bohriwala chowk is commonplace,” says Niranjan Kaur, a resident.

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Past voting trend

After the lifting of emergency in 1977, Tarn Taran has always voted in favour of Akali candidates till the 1992 election, when Congress candidate Dilbag Singh Daleke won. Again in 2017, Congress candidate Dr Dharambeer Agnihotri won, defeating three-time SAD candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu by 14,629 votes.

Voters’ demand

* Create self-employment avenues

* Disposal of rainwater in villages

* Covering Kasur Nullah

* Recarpeting of main road in Tarn Taran

* Building for Government Elementary School, Gali Mastara Wali

* Playground for Government Senior Secondary School

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Electorate strength

Male 99334

Female 90318

Third gender 7

Total 1,89,659

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2017 poll results

Result Candidate Party Votes

Won Dr Dharambeer Agnihotri Congress 59,794

Lost Harmeet Singh Sandhu SAD 45,165