Poor waste collection system, illegal constructions
Govind Sharma
JAMMU: Poor waste collection and Illegal constructions are the key issues in Ward 20 of Jammu Municipal Corporation comprising Aquaf Market, Panama Chowk and Gandhi Nagar areas near Green Belt Park, office of Department of Fire & Emergency Services, Police Lines and backside of Swarn Theatre besides Valmiki Colony.
On the whole, there are good roads & lanes and clean drains but people have complaints regarding waste collection system and non-functioning of street lights in many areas of the Ward.
In Gandhi Nagar AD Block, a retired Army officer, who declined to be identified, said that many street lights in Mini Market of Green Belt Park area are not functioning, particularly near Momos’ shop and the back side of this shop has become a hub of drug addicts due to darkness. He said many times street lights were installed there but the drug addicts damage the same in order to carry out their illegal activity without being identified.
Dimple Kumari, a resident of Gandhi Nagar near Police Lines said illegal constructions are being done with impunity in many parts of the Ward in connivance with the concerned officials of the Jammu Municipal Corporation. “After completion of their construction work, people left the debris on roads and do not bother to lift the same,” she said, adding these heaps of construction material presents a bad picture of this posh area.
In Panama Chowk area, Ravinder Singh, a businessman said that there is no proper system of collection and lifting of waste by the JMC. “There is no fixed time for collection of waste by the safai karamcharis and hence many inhabitants threw their household waste packed in a poly bag outside their houses, which presents a bad picture,” he added.
Kewal Krishan of Aquaf Market said that dumpers of JMC do not lift the garbage on regular basis due to which garbage bins in the area generally overflow thereby giving open invitation to the stray animals, which further aggravates the situation.
Joseph of Valmiki Colony said that the nallah behind the Colony plays havoc every Monsoon season as it overflows and the dirty water enters into the houses of the people living near Nallah. “The drainage system of the Colony is worst but nobody pays heed to the plight of poor residents of the Colony,” he added.
Corporator of the Ward, Rahul Kumar, who won the ULB election on BJP mandate, said that in some pockets of the Ward like Valmiki Colony there are few problems and issues which will be addressed soon on priority. He said the issues of construction of main lane of Valmiki Colony and fencing of the nallah have been taken up with the Mayor, who in turn has assured of sanctioning funds for the same. “Moreover, the extension of community hall of Valmiki Colony will be started soon as MLC Vikram Randhawa has sanctioned a sum of Rs 5 lakh for the same,” he added.
He said issue of street lights has been taken up with JMC Commissioner and soon the faulty ones will be replaced with new lights. On issue of waste collection, the Corporator said that he is working on a plan to make a shed for dumping of solid waste of the Ward from where JMC vehicles may easily lift the same.
“There are also plans to organize rallies on road safety and drugs to create awareness among the people of the Ward, particularly younger generation”, Rahul said, adding he is also contemplating to open a counseling centre for the youth, who have fallen prey to the drug menace.
The Corporator said in just over one month of overtaking, he established an open gym in Green Belt Park so that our youth and elders can keep them fit by doing exercises in this open gym, besides talking to nature. “Besides, the construction work of a Sulabh Sauchalaya has been started in the park for the convenience of the visitors,” the Corporator said, adding in coming days, he is also planning to open a coffee kiosk in the Park.
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