Ward 35 still gets contaminated water

Sanjeev K. Sharma

JAMMU, Nov 3: As hardly a year is left in five years mandatory tenure of the elected body of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) , many parts of Ward Number 35, which includes some parts of Janipur area, still getting contaminated water in supply by Jal Shakti Department as the project of replacing the old worn-out pipes in the area by the new ones, estimated to incur an expenditure of Rs. 3.25 crore, is yet to see light of the day.
This was informed by Yash Paul Sharma, JMC Councillor of Ward number 35 who belongs to BJP and was elected as a representative of the Urban Local Body in 2018 for the first time.
He said that his Ward includes areas of Shant Nagar, Ram Vihar, Indira Colony, EWS Colony and Pandoka Colony in Janipur area.
“I put my best efforts for a smart toilet in Janipur Bazar but the same could not be done due to official red tape but I am still continuing efforts for that in the remaining period of my tenure as a Councillor,” he said in an interaction with the Excelsior.
Sharma further said that another big project of making Janipur market, right from High Court road to Bhawani Nagar, a smart bazaar with fencing divider in middle of the road which was expected to incur an expenditure of Rs. 48 lakh also could not be done due to lack of funds.
“I have also demanded 52 heritage lights for the market but the same were not provided due to paucity of funds and now I am taking the issue with the new Mayor,” he maintained.
“When I became Councillor, my Ward was facing water and power crisis and there was a Nallah (deep drain) which used to get flooded in rainy days but now that has been corrected and there is no flood in the Nallah for the last three years,” Sharma said adding that other issues of his Ward were that of stray animals, street lights, lane-drain problems, crime especially theft cases, problems in getting pension by old age people, widows and physically challenged persons etc.
He also said though the water supply in his Ward has improved by now yet the public is still getting contaminated water at their homes due to the sewerage pipes in the area.
“The power problem has been solved as smart meters have been installed in the Ward but exorbitant electricity bills have now become a problem while there is no smart metering in many areas of the city,” the JMC Councillor said adding: “In some areas of my Ward public objected the installation of smart meters and demanded proper cabling before that to prevent power thefts.”
He claimed that smart metering is harassment to the poor people and is a part of big scam as the authorities have so far not disclosed reasons for abandoning the already existing meters and have installed smart power meters in a dictatorial manner due to which poor people are getting hefty power bills.
“About 90 per cent of lane-drain work in my Ward has been completed but still lanes and drains get damaged due to lack of coordination among government departments. One department repairs lanes and drains while the other comes and digs these again for a different purpose,” Sharma continued.
The Councillor claimed that in COVID-19 pandemic period he very much remained in public especially with the labour class people living in the Ward and distributed ration and other items among the needy people and got COVID-19 vaccination camps organized in the Ward.
“Presently, as there is an outbreak of dengue in Jammu, fogging and spray are being done in my Ward while camps for Aadhar Cards, Voter Cards and Ayushman Cards are also being organized regularly in the Ward and now my public is satisfied with all such services,” he claimed.
The Councillor informed that there is no playground in his Ward but there are four parks for which the public has a responsibility to maintain cleanliness there.
“Safai Karamcharis provided in my Ward were less than required but still the Ward is a clean one,” he further said adding that there is a little crime in the Ward.
The JMC Councillor also said that the present rule for pension only to Below Poverty Line families is creating problems for the needy people.