Red tape culture in PWD affects blacktopping of Gandhi Nagar by-lanes
Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 3: In every rainy season the notorious Landoi Choi Nallah causes flood in Ward Number 20 of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the water gushes into residential houses inflicting damages.
This was informed by Rahul Kumar, Councillor of the Ward adding that most affected area in this regard remains Gandhi Nagar Extension-2 and encroachment over the Nallah is one of the reasons for these floods due to which some houses adjoining to the Nallah have also started sinking.
“Earlier there was a slab over the Nallah but now it has been broken for Nallah cleansing. As the required boundary wall on the banks of the Nallah was not constructed to stop flood water from coming out, the floods continue in rainy season there,” he maintained adding: “However, construction of boundary wall and repair of a bridge on 150 meter stretch of this Nallah at backside of Valmiki Colony has now been completed at an expenditure of Rs. 80 lakh to prevent flood like situation in that locality of the Ward.”
In an exclusive interaction with the Excelsior, Rahul, who politically belongs to BJP and is a first time Councillor informed that areas of his Ward include Blocks A/B, B/D, C/C, D/C, A/D, Valmiki Colony, Gandhi Nagar Extension-2, Police Lines, Aquaf Market, Green Belt Park and back side of Gole Market.
He claimed that wrong parking near Green Belt Housing Board Office area and rash driving in many parts of his Ward is a big problem as the rashly driven vehicles there may hit anyone.
Kumar said that the road construction authorities should put more speed breakers on the roads in the area.
“There are many vends in green belt area fo the Ward which spread litter on the road and the concerned JMC officials should act strictly against these,” the Councillor said.
He claimed that work of construction and repair of lanes and drains is 80 per cent complete in his Ward while road blacktopping work is 70 per cent done there but as the by-lanes of the Ward have not been handed over by the Public Works Department (PWD) to JMC so far due to red tape culture in PWD, some blacktopping work has been left in the Ward.
Many locals of the Ward from C (A) lane near DTDC Courier Service Office said their lane needs proper blacktopping.
Rahul Kumar also said that Street Lights have lit 60 per cent of the roads and streets in the Ward but 15 per cent of these lights have turned non-functional and their repair is over-delayed.
The JMC Councillor said that stray dogs have created a lot of problems in the Ward.
“These canines not only litter here and there but also bite people and chase two wheelers and have created a wave of terror among women, children and old age people,” he maintained adding that whenever JMC personnel visit the Ward to lift these dogs, the dog lovers hinder their work.
The Councillor claimed that there are 35 Public Parks in his Ward and all of them are properly maintained with facilities like lights, tiled walkway, benches for sitting and many are having Open Air Gyms etc.
“There is one playground, two public toilets and no parking place for vehicles and also no public bathroom in my Ward while a Community Hall there is under litigation,” Kumar further said.
He informed that there are 80 Safai Karamcharis in the Ward and 20 more are needed there for better cleanliness.
“Even though Safai Karamcharis in the Ward are short by 20, cleanliness in the area is good due to proper use of available manpower,” the JMC Councillor said.
He said that there are three autos moving from door-to-door to collect garbage from the residential houses but the Ward needs two more such autos for better garbage disposal.
“From the day this service was introduced in the Ward, dustbins and garbage dumps have almost remained nowhere in the area,” Kumar continued.
He said that there is a Cremation Ground at Valmiki Colony and JMC has spent Rs. 22 lakh on developmental works there but still more development is required to be done on the Crematorium.
The Councillor said that almost all the residents of his Ward have made their Ayushman Cards and most of the eligible Voters have got their Voter Cards and same is the status of Domicile Certificates there.
“There are many widows, physically challenged and old age persons in Valmiki Colony of my Ward who are getting pension but the newly introduced rule for these pensions exclusively to Below Poverty Line people is creating problems for others,” he said.
Kumar said that there are hanging wires and damaged poles in Valmiki Colony area of the Ward and none of the authorities have so far bothered to correct these.
The JMC Councillor said that there were reports about thefts involving iron gratings from drains in the Ward and informed that that many drug addicts and peddlers are active in his Ward for which the police should take a cognizance.
He said that his Ward has good number of Water Coolers and maximum of these are functioning properly while JMC will soon place such Coolers in Public Parks also to facilitate the people.
Rahul Kumar said that house numbering in the Ward is old one and the Ward also needs five more high mast lights.
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