Sans amenities, Fazilka colonies belie MC claims

Praful Chander Nagpal

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, March 12

The five-year tenure of the Municipal Council ended on March 10. The BJP-led civic body’s outgoing president, Rakesh Dhuria, credited himself with spending crores of rupees on development works at a press conference yesterday.

He said an estimate of Rs 72.64 crore was prepared for the development of the town during the last five years.

The council floated tenders for Rs 48.40 crore and spent Rs 21 crore on the construction of streets, lanes and other projects, Dhuria claimed.

It also spent huge sums on illegal colonies in Fazilka and the three colonies it constructed decades ago still lack basic amenities.

Later, Dhobi Ghat Colony, Madan Gopal Road Colony and a colony near Sacred Heart School were renamed as Syama Prasad Mukherji Nagar, Dr Baldev Parkash locality and Dr Hedgewar Colony. All these colonies have turned into a dump yard.

Sources said the MC auctioned 577 plots in these colonies and earned crores of rupees. “The council also took development charges from buyers, still these colonies present a picture of neglect. The areas lack sewerage, water supply system and streetlights. No roads have been constructed in Dhobi Ghat Colony,” said Rakesh Kumar, Secretary, Baba Khetarpal Sewadar Society, Fazilka, which has set up a temple in Dhobi Ghat Colony.

Buyers alleged that the council had misused funds collected through auctions. It spent the money on unauthorised colonies. “Some people tried to encroach upon seven to eight plots in Dhobi Ghat Colony on March 10, but the attempt was foiled by the MC staff,” said Executive Officer, Rajnish Girdhar.