MUNICIPAL WARD UPDATE
Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 6: Lack of funds has badly hit the developmental works in Ward Number 34 of Jammu city while the Urban Local Body of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has completed over four years of its mandatory tenure of five years.
Presently neither the sewerage network has been completely laid nor the old and worn-out water supply pipes replaced in the Ward due to lack of funding and the Ward also suffered a lot because the concerned authorities have badly failed to recognize the non-registered colonies.
This was revealed by Rani Devi, a first time JMC Councillor representing Ward Number 34 which includes areas of Janipur like Harijan Colony, some parts of Janki Vihar, Ambedkar Nagar, Hari Nagar etc.
Rani Devi is an Independent Councillor and she said that her Ward also lacks street lights as these were not given as per requirement of the Ward.
“Of the total requirement, my Ward only got 75 per cent of these lights,” she claimed.
Rani also said that another problem which her Ward suffers from is poor water supply and the water is supplied on alternate days due to the ongoing strike by the concerned employees.
“Issues of power crisis, dilapidated lanes and drains, cleanliness are also there in most parts of my Ward,” she maintained adding: “Some colonies in the Ward are not registered because of which the needy people there failed to avail the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme.”
As far as the pensions to old age people, widows and physically challenged people is concerned, the Councillor said that the newly introduced regulation for pensions exclusively to the people belonging to Below Poverty Line category has made this facility tough for many people who are in dire need of this.
Taking a dig on addiction, she claimed that a wine shop was opened in her Ward despite protests by the locals.
Making a startling claim the JMC Councillor said: “The role of police is not up to the mark as peddlers openly sell narcotic substances in my Ward and when I inform cops regarding the same they disclose my identity to the peddlers thereby pushing me and my family to a possible trouble.”
She further said that up-gradation of a Middle School at Hari Nagar to High School level has not been done in her Ward for many years and the same also remained a long pending public demand in the area.
“A community hall in my Ward is under litigation at present while there is no play ground in the Ward,” Rani Devi further said.
Among the works done by her in the Ward she said that she got constructed a community hall at Kabir Mandir with a budget of Rs. 50 lakh while she also got constructed bath rooms with a budget of Rs. 10 lakh in the same temple.
“The repair of lanes and drains in my Ward is approximately 75 per cent complete while the remaining work in this regard is also being done,” Rani Devi said.
She said that Ambedkar Nagar Park has been developed now with at a budget of Rs. 9.5 lakh with facilities like benches for sitting purpose, marble work and lights.
“During COVID-19 pandemic triggered lockdown no political party visited my Ward and we helped the needy people by giving them ration and other things of need,” the Councillor said adding that she helped authorities in getting people of her Ward vaccinated for the disease.
She further said that camps for Ayushman Cards, Voter Cards and Aadhar Cards are regularly being organized in her Ward to facilitate the people.
“Now during the outbreak of dengue fever the JMC is fogging the Ward to safeguard the public from dengue,” Rani Devi continued making another claim of shortage of Safai Karamcharis in her Ward.
“Against a demand of 24 my Ward was given only 16 Safai Karamcharis and that too without proper equipments like pull-cart, spade etc and this is the main reason for poor cleanliness in my Ward,” she said adding that the Safai Karamcharis do not adhere to her instructions but work on their own will while a lady Safai Karamchari working in the Ward and very much on JMC pay rolls was not seen for the last four years.
“JMC Health Officers also do not cooperate with us but the new Mayor, Rajinder Sharma has assured cooperation and full support for the development and up-liftment of the Ward,” the Councillor said.
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