Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: Taking serious note of very slow pace of work on laying of sewerage pipes and repair of roads and lanes in the Jammu city and now suddenly launching the work on war-footing a few weeks before the reopening of Civil Secretariat in the winter capital here, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry asked the Government to shun its indifferent and the biased attitude towards the people of Jammu, who were forced to lead ‘sub-standard life’ during past several months.
The CCI members in a meeting held today under the chairmanship of YV Sharma (president), expressed deep concern over the slow and tardy pace of work on sewerage and drainage project and also on some important roads, lanes and by-lanes of the winter capital city. They said work was started well before the rainy season but the common man was made to suffer not only during the rainy season but even there after. They said the CCI received many delegations complaining against the callous and dilatory attitude of the authorities. It was duly conveyed to the authorities concerned but no heed was paid to it for initiating repair work on lanes and roads and minimizing the sufferings of the Jammu people.
They pointed out that Jammu is a tourist station which receives lakhs of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine besides population of Jammu has swelled to such an extent that closing of roads or keeping them shabby even for a single day makes it difficult, troublesome and intolerable for everyone in the city but it seems that the authorities consider the common people as a ‘commodity’ which can be put to all sorts of trouble without any qualms of conscience. Without attributing any motives, the Chamber feels that there is some element working against the common citizen.
The CCI members took strong note of the speedy completion of the roads and beautification activities initiated now in Jammu well before the ‘Darbar move’. They asked the question, “Are all facilities meant for the ministers and the bureaucrats? Can we ignore the common man at all times, whereas, the common man’s interest is the priority of any type of administrative dispensation? The Chamber has a question to ask from the authorities that why they could not complete these infrastructure activities well before the move of the Secretariat. Why such activities are allowed which may send a feeling of the treatment of second class citizens among the people of this region?
The Chamber observes that giving a feeling of inferiority to the common man vis-à-vis the VIP’s, disturbs the very foundation of democracy and does not speak high of the administration which is meant for the betterment of the common masses. It would only aggravate the intensity of simmering discontent among the people of this region against the ruling dispensation. Every citizen and a tax payer, has a right to avail ‘quality life’ and it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure equality in all spheres. The Chamber urged the Chief Minister and the ministers concerned to ensure that such approach is kept aside and every developmental activity should be completed with speed, alacrity, commitment and dedication in the interest of a hassle-free better quality of life for the members of the civil society.
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