Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 4: Though completion of the tenure of elected body for Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has only some months left, Ward Number 63 is still facing acute water crisis and some areas of the Ward even gets the water supply after five days.
This was claimed by Kuldeep Singh Chib, JMC Councillor from Ward Number 63 during an interaction with the Excelsior.
Chib, who hails from BJP, is a first time JMC Councillor and he informed that his Ward includes the areas of Bantallab, Keran, Kamal Nagar, KB Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Bharat Nagar, Gurah Keran, Dinanagar, Uppar Thathar, Karan Vihar, Pooja Colony and Lower Thathar.
“One of the reasons for water problem in the Ward is increased population in the area,” he said adding that two new tube wells have been sanctioned for the Ward but the process of tendering is still underway.
The Councillor informed that he daily provides five water tanks at Lower and Upper Thathar areas in his Ward as these areas are worst hit by the chronic water crisis.
He said that in the extended area of the Ward like Thathar, Pooja Colony etc, even less than 60 per cent of the work has been done as far as repair of lanes and installation of street lights is concerned as funds were not available.
“Only 50 per cent drains have been repaired in the Ward due to scarcity of funds,” the Councillor further said stating that there are two Nallahs in the Ward which cause floods in rainy season thereby causing damages.
“When I was elected as a Councillor, there were issues of repair and construction of roads and lanes as most of the roads and lanes were Kuccha and drains were not properly constructed in the Ward,” he said.
Chib informed that there were very few street lights in the Ward at that time while elders, widows and physically challenged people were facing problems in getting pensions.
“On assuming the charge of JMC Councillor I started the work of blacktopping roads and lanes, laying tiles in certain lanes, repair of drains, installing street lights etc in the Ward,” he further said.
The JMC Councillor said that there are five crematoriums in his Ward at Bantallab, Keran, Upper Thathar, Lower Thathar and Karan Vihar and all these places of performing last rites have been properly developed now.
“There are also eight ponds in the Ward at Bantallab, Upper Thathar, Bawa Kailakh, Karan Vihar and four in Lower Thathar area,” the Councillor said adding that Rs. 32 lakh was spent on the main pond of Lower Thathar wherein grill work was done around the pond and a walkway was made there on modern lines. “Tendering for the pond of Bantallab has been done while for another pond at Lower Thathar, the tendering process is still underway,” he said.
Chib claimed that he helped about 350 persons (including elders, widows and physically challenged people) of his Ward to get pension but the recently introduced rule for pensions exclusively to Below Poverty Line persons is creating problems.
“Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme I helped about 35 persons to construct homes while I also guided about 220 needy people in my Ward to get toilets at their homes under a government scheme,” he said.
The JMC Councillor said, as the Dengue fever has spread like an epidemic at present therefore fogging has also been done in the Ward.
“During COVID-19 pandemic triggered lockdown we distributed free ration to the needy people and also organised vaccination camps in the Ward,” he further said claiming that 90 per cent of the people of his Ward have now made Ayushman Cards while camps still continue for these cards for the left over population and Aadhar Cards and Voter Cards are also being made in regular camps being organised in the Ward.
“There is no playground in the Ward but there are two parks and problems due drug addiction still prevails in the Ward for which the police should take a cognisance else many innocent youth might be trapped in this dark world,” Chib continued claiming that public of the Ward is very much satisfied by his works.
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