The government embarked on an ambitious project to make the state garbage-free. A pilot project was launched from Khanna on November 5 last year. Three months down the line, nothing has changed. General sanitary conditions are pathetic.
The city, which also boasts of having Asia’s biggest grain market, continues to be dotted with broken roads, a collapsed sewerage system and a non-functional garbage collection mechanism till date.
A cross-section of residents of Guru Nanak Nagar, in conversation with The Tribune, said they had ‘Great Expectations’ from the Aam Admi Party (AAP) when it came to power in 2022. However, the living conditions here continue to remain dismal.
Joha, a resident of Guru Nanak Nagar colony, said, “When AAP leaders are inaccessible, how can we even dream of meet the ministers? Residents in colonies are living in hell-like conditions with sewage overflowing onto the streets.”
“Before elections, they came with folded hands and promised to resolve the issues; but nobody comes to enquire about our problems now,” said Sheela Rani, an elderly woman from Guru Nanak Nagar. Bant Colony resident Ranjit Kaur does not mince a word in saying, “We (local residents) have decided that we will humiliate politicians in the public when they could come asking for votes next time.”
The Congress-dominated Municipal Council members allege that the AAP government is meting out a “step-motherly treatment” to them. AAP leaders term the allegations as blatant lies. A case of embezzlement of public money was registered against the president of Municipal Council, Kamaljit Singh Ladhar, recently. He, in turn, called it an act of “political vendetta”.
Ladhar blamed the ruling party for not allowing the desired development in the area. “We are being denied finances assistance by the government, so carrying out works has become impossible,” he alleged.
Cabinet Minister and local MLA Tarunpreet Singh Sond said, “No work was undertaken as the council did not work. Congress leaders only intended to make money for themselves and nothing else. What can you expect when even the president has indulged in open corruption?”
Sond added, “We launched the pilot project to make the towns garbage-free from Khanna. Give us some time, results will be visible.”
MC Executive Officer Charanjit Singh, on the other hand, said unapproved colonies faced most of the problems. He added: “How can we regularise illegal structures without government approval?”
“Accidents are a common occurrence on potholed roads here and the situation is very worrisome at night,” said Jagjit Singh, a Bant Colony resident. Ranjit Singh from Azad Nagar said all gullies were blocked with garbage and filth and the entire area got waterlogged every time it rained.
Prabhjot Kaur from Bant Colony, Geeta Rani from Guru Gobind Nagar and Madhavi from Azad Nagar had a similar grievance: We pool money to get the sewers cleared.
Heaps of garbage are a common sight around Sabzi Mandi on the Amloh road. Straw from the vegetable and fruit boxes remains lying in the open. “Sometimes this straw is set on fire, which adds to the air pollution, and it becomes difficult to breathe,” said a migrant worker in the mandi.
The abysmally pathetic condition of the Aam Aadmi Clinic, near the old police station in the meat market, makes one wonder whether a person was visiting the facility for treatment or to get sick.
Roads in Azad Nagar, Rajasthani Colony and Bant Colony badly need repairs. Kartar Nagar is replete with sights of sewage flowing onto the roads and garbage dumped along the roads and in vacant plots.
