Ajay Raina
JAMMU, July 1: Although the inhabitants of Jammu East Constituency popularly known as “Old City” have divergent views on the performance of their elected MLA Ashok Khajuria, the matter of the fact is that the constituency remains choked with numerous problems and there is no perceptible change on the ground during the past over five and a half years.
Rather the development related grievances of the people have compounded during this period because of unplanned activities in all the sectors particularly the sewerage works.
The major parts of the constituency including those areas which witnessed some sort of development continue to face several issues of in-sanitation and congestion and on both these front, the performance of the sitting MLA Ashok Khajuria remained under a big question mark.
Comprising of 11 Wards, Jammu East is spread on a wide area having various colonies including Rajinder Bazaar, Khatikan Talab, Jain Bazaar, Malhotra Mohalla, Kanak Mandi, City Chowk, Kali Jani, Link Road, Raj Tilak Road, Pahadi Mohalla, Partap Garh Mohalla, Pakki Dhakki, Chowk Chabutra, Lakhdata Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Gumat, Qasim Nagar, Mast Garh, Christian Colony, Gujjar Nagar, Prem Nagar, Rajeev Nagar, Afghana Mohallah, Chand Nagar, Residency Road, etc.
Due to non-availability of basic amenities including water, power, parking space, developmental works, etc, the residents of Jammu East have been forced to shift to other areas, which showed sheer decline in the voter list if compared to 2008 Assembly elections.
Not only this, due to apathetic attitude of the State Government and other authorities responsible for upkeep and management of the area vis-à-vis rich heritage sites including Mubarak Mandi, Peerkho Temple, Raghunath Temple, Ranbireshwar Mandir, Khatikan Talab Masjid, the number of tourists visiting here has decreased drastically and it in turn has given a setback to the business community due to which many shopkeepers have shifted their business establishments to other areas.
The city has become so congested due to encroachments of its roads and lanes that now-a-days it is impossible to take a round of the area even on a two wheeler. The developmental works in these areas are almost choked, which has compelled the voters of the area to migrate to other areas.
Apart from this, the old structures constructed by Government years ago need immediate renovation otherwise they can collapse anytime resulting into any catastrophe.
The developmental work (tile laying work) carried out by JMC some months back is in a dilapidated condition, which clearly indicates that the material used in the construction of lanes was sub-standard.
People while talking about the reasons which brought the “Jammu East” to this ugly situation told that the Government and the MLA have failed in their prime duties. They have shrugged off their responsibility, which has led the ‘Old City’ into constant neglect in the way of development vis-à-vis basic facilities including water and power.
Government’s failure in providing basic amenities of life in the area and casual approach of their MLA has resulted into mass migration of people and decline in the voter list, which has remained around 65,000 presently despite it being in lakhs in 2008 Assembly elections.
Various Government agencies including Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Custodian Department, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Public Works Department (PWD) have not even thought it important to redress the issues of the people. These agencies have also failed to make the area encroachment free owing to which the whole constituency has now converted into a ‘Traffic Choke Zone’ with almost zero basic facilities.
The people hesitate to visit business hub in the Jammu East due to constant traffic jams, lack of parking facilities, dilapidated condition of roads and prevailing insanitation. The business hub has remained a domestic market instead of the commercial market as it was earlier.
Praises pour in for MLA East in those areas, where developmental works had taken place after 2008 Assembly Elections, but people are also having grievances for their MLA in some areas including Christian Colony, Gujjar Nagar, Prem Nagar, Gumat, etc, where developmental works and basic facilities are still missing.
“Like in Parliamentary elections, where people voted on the basis of performance, the same criteria will be followed in the Assembly elections”, people said while interacting with our correspondent.
Hinting towards new face, they said that the dilapidated condition of roads, heaps of garbage and long snarls of traffic are the main problems being faced by the people, which their MLA failed to which he had attached priority during public meetings held during 2008 elections campaign.
The problem of round the clock cleanliness in the lanes and drains of the area was always neglected due to non-seriousness of our MLA as he did not take up this issue with JMC seriously, said Gautam Sharma, a resident of Parade.
He added that non-availability of parking space is one of the major problems which led to migration of both residents and the business community.
Raj Kumar Babber, Provincial President, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province (SSJP) said that traffic jams, lack of parking space, insanitation, are the main problems being faced by the people and business community of the Jammu East.
He said that maximum roads in the constituency remains jam packed for maximum time, which has affected the business community badly.
“No doubt, our MLA had taken various initiatives in the past several years and all are visible to the people”, he said, adding that drainage problem being faced by the residents would only be redressed only after commencing of the ‘Sewerage Treatment Plant.
Pankaj Sharma, a resident of Afghan Mohallah said that now-a-days people think of high class living, large parking space, good education for children, medical facilities, high and general facilities at door steps, which they can’t get here in Jammu East, due to apathetic attitude of the Government and our elected representative.
“The people of the area park their vehicles in private parking near Shalamar Chowk, Purani Mandi, etc. “My own car was stolen from outside my house, then how can we think that the vehicles parked in private parking are safe”, he added.
The residents have to pay around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per month for parking their vehicle in private parking space during night, which is also a matter of concern. “What has our MLA done in this regard”, he questioned.
“Had the construction of multi storey parking place near Super Bazaar and Panjtirthi been initiated by the Government such a situation would not have arisen, but all this has not been done due to the casual approach of our MLA”, he said.
Palak Sharma, a resident of Custodian house, said that the dream of residents of Jammu East of having lavish lifestyle will never come true due to lethargic approach of the Government.
“If I talk about custodian houses, there are around 10,000 souls living in these houses, whose renovation is to be taken care by Custodian Department. The Custodian Department and the Government especially our representative in the Assembly is least bothered about the lives of the people living in these houses”, she added.
Radhay Sham Khajuria, a resident of Mast Garh and a teacher by profession said that the dilapidated condition of the roads, heaps of garbage, shortage of water and power supplies are the main problems being faced by the people of the area since long.
He added that pollution due to choked drains is one of the main problems here, which not only the local people but also the visitors face. If the use of polythene is banned, then the JMC should strictly adhere to the orders issued in this regard.
Shekhar Arora, a resident of Malhotra Mohalla alleged that the Government’s failure in its prime duty in preserving and maintaining the glory of Jammu East has created chaos and confusion among the people.
He said that settling in new colonies and other posh areas outside the City for want of better facilities might also be the reason of people migration, as all the basic facilities, which the people are trying to get are shrinking with the time.
Many times it has been noticed that whenever higher authorities of JMC/JDA or any other Government Departments visit any Ward of Jammu East, the Ward is maintained beautifully by the concerned officials to show their presence. The officials should conduct on the spot checking of Wards of Jammu East without pre-panned visits only then they will come to know about the problems being faced by the residents”, he suggested.
“If this situation continued, then one day will come, when the number of voters will come to thousands only”, he added.
Sarita Sharma, a resident of Parade said that people are facing scarcity of water supply and un-scheduled power cuts. In last over six decades, Government failed to provide safe drinking water and uninterrupted power supply to its people. During elections, they make promises to redress the issues of the people, but after elections, never adhere to it, she added.
“Our MLA is people friendly and takes keen interest in the development of the area. But the Government is responsible for lack of development as it failed on all fronts”, she said.
Gurdarshan Singh, President, Gumat Bazaar Welfare Association said that no steps have been taken for the beautification of the Gumat Bazaar. “We have to come on roads to get our demands redressed”, he added.
“We demanded a bore well or hand pump for the convenience of the shopkeepers and tourists, but our demand is still to get redressed”, Singh stated.
No initiative has been taken by the MLA of this area as water scarcity, unscheduled power cuts and developmental works are no where in sight in Gumat and surrounding areas”, he added.
Chander Shekhar, a social activist said that in Jammu East there are only two medical centres–Unani Medical Centre at Jullaka Mohollah and Allopathy Centre at Mubarak Mandi, which are catering the medical needs of the thousands of people.
“At Unani Medical Centre, an ayurvedic doctor is deputed. Is it sufficient?. More specialized doctors should be appointed here in these medical centres for the convenience of the people especially for those, who are in dire need of medical facilities”, he added.
Gourav Mahajan, a student said that in the past, Government Higher Secondary School, Jullaka Mohallah was known for producing brilliant students, but presently the strength of students in very low, due to the reason best known to the Education Department.
“My father had told me that MLA Ashok Khajuria, Ex-MLA Shiv Dev Singh Manhas besides many other renowned personalities had studied in this institution, but now the students do not prefer to study in this institution for the reasons best known to the Education Department”, he said while targeting the education standard in the area.
Bablu Sharma and Raman, a resident of Prem Nagar said that the residents of this area are deprived of basic facilities since 2008 Assembly elections. No development work has taken place in the area, which is a matter of concern for the generation to come, they added.
Taking a dig over MLA East, they said “MLA Sahab Sirf Election Ke Time Pa Hi Darshan Dete Ha Humare Area Ma, Aur Election Ke Baad, Kabhi Mud Ke Nhi Dekhte (MLA just visits our area during elections time and after that never turns till next elections).
Shopkeepers in Jain Bazar and Lakhdatta Bazars said that the main problem in their areas is of traffic congestion. “If any fire incident takes place in these areas, fire brigade can not reach the spot due to traffic congestion.
“We are planning to shift our business to some other place outside Old City as it is very difficult for us to do business under fear and due to non-availability of basic facilities including water and power supply”, they added.
When the problems being faced by the people were taken up with the MLA East Ashok Khajuria, he said the grievances of the people are genuine and I will try my level best to redress their issues.
When asked about parking problems, Khajuria said that it is Government’s deliberate attempt to tarnish my image by not sanctioning the funds for the construction of the multi-storey parking place at Shalamar and Panjtirthi near Radio Station.
“I had taken the issues of road development with NBCC and I will work with them to get it accomplished within shortest possible time”, he said, adding that maximum work has been done by him in his constituency.
Excelsior launches ‘MLAs Report Card’
As Assembly elections are only few months away, Daily Excelsior from today is starting a new series under the title ‘MLAs Report Card’ in which our team of Reporters would cover all 87 Assembly segments of Jammu and Kashmir. Reporters would take opinion of cross sections of society about their MLA and report whether the MLA has come up to the expectations of the people or not. The series, which is an initiative to let the people know about the performance of their MLAs, would at the same time give due space to the MLAs to present their Report Card before the public. The series would last 87 days as we plan to cover all Assembly segments—one constituency in a day. We hope the Readers would appreciate our new initiative and apprise us of their valuable suggestions. The series takes off today with Jammu City (East) Assembly constituency, the most prestigious segment.
—Editor
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