Amritsar Central: Encroachers have free run

Neha Walia

The Assembly segment is considered Deputy Chief Minister and Congress senior leader OP Soni’s stronghold as he has been elected to the Vidhan Sabha five times from here.

Past trend

Congress’ OP Soni won the seat twice in 2012 and 2017. In 2017, he bagged 53.86 per cent of the total votes polled. In 2007, BJP’s Laxmi Kanta Chawla successfully contested from the segment. In the 2002 polls, Congress’ Darbari Lal registered victory.

Electorate strength

Total voters – 1,39,353

Male – 74,588

Female – 64,752

Third gender – 13

Locals’ key demands

• Sewerage in slum areas
• Solution to drug menace
• Drug addicts’ rehabilitation
• Removal of encroachment

The Deputy CM credits himself for ushering in a wave of development and changing the face of the constituency in his long stint as the Member of the Legislative Assembly. No doubt the seasoned politician carried out several development works in the segment, the ground reality is far from satisfactory. There’s a lot of work to be done. There are several slums areas in the constituency that have become eyesores. Most of them are crying for basic amenities. For instance, Anngarh and Bhrariwal have been facing many development problems, including the laying of sewerage pipes and the availability of clean drinking water.

The drug abuse and addiction too has raised its ugly head in the constituency, with some areas becoming hubs. Residents have been demanding for long proper rehabilitation of drug addicts for their better assimilation in society and helping them lead a normal life. Sprouting illegal construction and encroachments in commercial as well as residential areas have become a big issue in this constituency. Concerned residents want authorities to take immediate action in this regard.