Abohar development projects stalled, residents upset over poor swachh survey ranking
BATHINDA:STARTED with much fanfare by the then local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu in October 27, 2017, work to develop the Abohar town in Fazilka district stalled soon thereafter. The home town of state Congress president Sunil Jakhar has since seen road roads dug up and clogged drainage, with even a walk on the road a challenging task.
In the recent Swachh Survekshan, the centre’s annual survey on cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission, announced on Thursday, the town ranked as the third dirtiest in India with a population between 1 and 10 lakh on cleanliness and sanitation.
In the work that was to be done under the Centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) Yojana, Rs 82 crore was earmarked for the sewer system and Rs 23 crore for drinking water supply for Abohar. Besides, 8-km new water supply pipeline, work was allotted for the 72-km lateral sewer line in Abohar city.as city’s roads remain inundated a day after heavy rainfall on Thursday, residents blame the state machinery for slow placed work. “Abohar is stated as a VIP city as this is the native place of the politically influential Jakhar family of the Congress party.
State Congress head Sunil Jakhar represented Abohar assembly segment for three consecutive terms in 2002, 2007 and 2012. Congress is in power since 2017 and Abohar can be an example of governance by the present
Dissatisfied with the private contractor’s performance, the MC has already allotted work of ₹11 crore to another firm to expedite development work. ABHIJEET KAPLISH, Municipal commissioner
dispensation,” Sanjeev Kumar, a resident said.
Another resident Deepak Kathuria rues that even quality of the drinking water supply has been hit due to dilapidated infrastructure.
“Road accidents are frequent due to battered roads. Incomplete work of laying sewage and road work leads to traffic jams. No one is accountable for inordinate delay,” he said.
BJP MLA of the area Arun Narang said, “The Centre-funded AMRUT was started announced in 2017 after a delay of one year of its sanction. To date, work under this scheme has not been completed by the Punjab government. Water-logging is common even after moderate rainfall. It is shocking that a city having a base of Congress president graded so lowly in terms of hygiene and sanitation.”
Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Kaplish said the private firm engaged under the AMRUT project was found working inefficiently. “Over 50% of work is incomplete, MC is contemplating action against the firm,” he added.“dissatisfied with the private contractor’s performance, the MC has already allotted work of Rs 11 crore to another firm to expedite development work. We are in the process of giving operation and maintenance work to another firm after competitive bidding,” he said.
Kaplish said Abohar municipality would improve its grading in next year’s cleanliness working.