Concern over condition in Ward 26
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 3: MLA Jammu West, Arvind Gupta on Saturday strongly criticised the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for what he termed as “hollow and misleading” claims of transforming Jammu into a Smart City, while the ground reality in several wards tells a completely different story.
Gupta made these remarks during his visit to Ward No. 26 of his constituency, where he reviewed civic conditions and interacted with local residents.
During the tour, Mandal president, Kushant Prajapati, along with his team and a large number of local residents, accompanied the MLA and apprised him of the long-pending civic issues affecting the area.
Ward No. 26, despite being categorised as an Urban Ward, presented a grim picture of neglect and administrative apathy, they said.
Addressing the media and residents, Arvind Gupta said, “Ward No. 26 is officially an urban area, but after seeing its condition, one wonders how it can be called urban at all. Neither does it look like a proper village nor a city. People here are deprived of basic amenities, which are supposed to be available at their doorstep in an urban ward.”
Taking a sharp dig at JMC’s Smart City narrative, Gupta said that the Corporation repeatedly claims that Jammu has received Smart City awards three or four times.
“The question is, on what basis are these awards being given? If this is the condition of wards like No. 26, then one fails to understand which areas are being shown to award committees,” he remarked.
He further alleged that sanitation services in the Ward 26 are virtually non-existent.
“Safai Karamcharis do not visit the area regularly, garbage remains unattended for days, and the lanes and drains are in a deplorable condition. People are living in such poor conditions, yet JMC turns a blind eye,” Gupta said.
The MLA expressed concern that residents have to be deprived of basic facilities, which defeats the very purpose of urban development and the Smart City mission. He accused the JMC of focusing more on publicity than actual development on the ground.
Arvind Gupta assured the residents that he would raise these issues forcefully with the concerned authorities and press for immediate remedial measures.
He demanded that JMC conduct a reality-based assessment of wards instead of projecting a “paper smart city” image. He also warned that if the condition of Ward No. 26 is not improved soon, strong public agitation may follow, holding the civic body accountable for its failures.
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