Mehal Kalan: Devoid of funds, development

Parvesh Sharma

IT is a rural constituency with 74 villages and two small semi-urban areas of Sherpur and Mehal Kalan. People are upset over the area not receiving required financial aid from the state government for various welfare projects.

Some locals said their area received some funds for laying of sewerage and water supply lines and construction of roads, but health, education and other facilities are in a bad condition. A majority of government hospitals are without required staff and lack infrastructure. If any patient comes to a hospital, staff refer the patients either to Ludhiana or Patiala as they do not have arrangements for treatment.

“Things have taken a turn for the worse in the past four years as the government has not taken any initiative to improve health, education and other facilities here. It all happened as we elected an AAP MLA,” said Karmajit Singh, a local.

The lack of major projects and government investment have also been the talking point among residents, who accused the government of discrimination with the area.

“Though the area has received some funds, the government did not help me in welfare works. Despite promises of constructing ITIs at Mehal Kalan and Hedike village, the authorities have not taken any step,” said AAP MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori.