Ward 8 inhabitants grapple with problems
Govind Sharma
JAMMU: Heaps of garbage on road sides, choked drains, menace of stray dogs, non-functional street lights and low pressure of PHE water supply are the main problems which the residents of Ward No 8 of Jammu Municipal Corporation are facing.
Ward No 8 comprises of areas of Dogra Hall, new Rehari, old Rehari, Bhim Nagar, Exchange Road and some slum areas like Bawa Basti and Kabir Basti. Like other parts of the city, insanitation and menace of stray dogs and non-functional street lights are big problems in this ward. This came to fore when this correspondent took a round of the ward and talked to residents of various mohallas.
“Insanitation is a universal problem and like other parts of the Jammu city, our ward is also facing the same. Choked drains and heaps of garbage on road sides not only emit foul smell but also give a bad impression to the visitors”, Naresh Kumar of old Rehari said, adding, waste is lifted only twice a week by the JMC vehicles despite repeated requests to the senior functionaries of the Corporation about removal of waste on daily basis.
Kapil Sharma of Dogra Hall said that the slaughter house in the area has created resentment amongst the inhabitants, as blood and other waste of slaughter house are thrown in the drains, which emit foul smell and invite various types of insects, vultures, dogs and other animals.
“Above all the slaughter house is located in front of a Shiv Temple, which hurts the sentiments of the devotees visiting the temple”, he said, adding despite repeated requests and protests by the residents, neither it was closed nor shifted from the area.
Priya Singh of New Rehari said that women of the locality cannot go out after 6 PM due to darkness as most of the street lights are non-functional while menace of stray dogs further restricts them from going out.
“Our mohalla being at the tail end, people are facing water scarcity since long, as pressure of PHE water supply is very low”, Kamla Sharma of new Rehari said.
Dr Akshay Sharma, Corporator of the Ward, who is a dental surgeon by profession and runs a dental clinic in new Rehari, joined BJP in 1999. He also held the post of BJP’s Jammu West publicity secretary in 2014-15.
Taking to Excelsior, Dr Akshay said that the problems of insanitation cannot be solved by just making drains but inculcating good habits among the residents by generating awareness. People should not throw their household waste anywhere. Moreover, there should be strict enforcement of ban on polythene bags and he would ensure that.
On non-functional street lights, he said that one person has been deputed by the JMC to look after street lights of three wards due to which maintenance, repair and replacement of defected lights, does not happen timely. The Corporator said he would try to ensure that one person is given the responsibility of one ward only.
Talking about his priorities as a Corporator, Dr Akshay said that there are many priorities like installation of a tubewell for old & new Rehari and Dogra Hall, opening of one Jan Ausadhi Kendra, one mohalla clinic and one Sulabh Sauchalaya in the Ward, one community hall at old/new Rehari, but shifting of slaughter house from Dogra Hall area and opening of Rehari Chowk crossing for vehicles will be his top priorities.
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