Punjab Vidhan Sabha committee panel on Local Bodies dissatisfied with Jalandhar MC functioning

Jalandhar, August 9, 2013: Ultimately the so called Punjab Vidhan Sabha committee on Local Bodies and Panchayanti Raj institutions (PRI) ,under the chairmanship of Prem Mittal (MLA Mansa) on Thursday  completed their mission to have a round the  Jalandhar town's municipal Corporation area only like Nikku Park and few other posh localities on the town on the second and the last day, without giving any information to the media and public to complete and justify their visit of the very important city of Punjab. The idea behind the visit was to observe, inspect and collect formation, the work done by the Municipal Corporation during the past days.

However the committee under the chairmanship of MLAs from few constituencies from Giddharbha Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Ludhiana (South MLA) Balwinder Singh Bains, Bharat Bhushan Aashu, MLA from Ludhiana, Chairman Prem Mittal, Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantonment MLA) and other persons, after visiting the posh neat clean areas and Pholriwal Treatment plant to observe the functioning of the plant, Called a press conference there in the chairman of the panel Prem Mittal.

Expressing  unhappiness regarding the working of Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar, Pargat Singh MLA (Cantonment Jalandhar) said, "We are not satisfied with the MCJ,s functioning, rather there are so many lapses on the part of the officials which is an obstacle in the development of the city". Pargat Singh said the condition of roads and cleanliness were in a very shabby look, full of potholes causing accidents, daily bikes skid and receive injuries by the drivers of the scootor and bikes. Balvinder Singh MLA Ludhiana said there was need for improving the working system of the MCJ on the whole.

Chairman Prem Mittal  said, "This was our first visit to the city and we had meetings with corporation officials on various issues. We gave them questionnaire to reply within a period of one month. Hopefully in the month of October, a Sub-Committee will visit this city to check progress made by the MCJ." In response to few queries by the media persons one after another Mittal said the committee asked the MC to a provide without any delay the information on the illegal constructions mushrooming in the city and the MC had sought 30 days time to submit their report and also the list of commercial buildings wish were constructed  with  or without approval of the site plans by the MCJ in the city.

In a direct question asked about the visit of the committee, whether only those areas to visit roads localities in posh areas, ignoring Basti areas, Guru Nanak Pura road, Gujja Peer Dad road, Kapurthala road near Basti Bawa Khel, main road, where no one can wade through the water accumulated during the rainy season. Prem Mittal and other members of the committee said," If the main roads in posh areas are in dilapidated, the condition of other areas can be adjudged."

Mittal said a four member committee chaired by Pargat Singh (MLA Cantonment, Jalandhar) have been constituted in order to keep vigils on the functioning of the MCJ and to visit regularly on the other localities too.

When drawn attention of the committee towards near Ghai Hospital, members took serious note of the wild grass on both sides of the road. In Guru Tek Bahadur Nagar, encroachment on both sides of the road causing traffic hazard was also pointed out. Garbage dumps at Model Town and Urban Estate was also brought into the notice of the committee members.

Not only this, the committee tagged the technology used at Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) functioning at Pholriwal village termed as outdated.

When asked about the shortcommings found by the committee members after visiting Cantonment area, Ludhiana (MLA West) Bharat Bhushan Aashu  said, "We are not supposed to speak with all about this  by now."We will complete the report and submit our report to Vidhan Sabha Speaker for further action."

A question raised by the media about the reports of a Patwari who was placed under suspension normally  found working in the Jalandhar Improvement Trust(JIT), Prem Mittal alongwith other members said they were not aware of the matter and would took into it.

The leaders of Opposition in the MCJ, Jagdish Raja, a Congress leader Rajinder Beri and members of the Dynamic Group of the Councillors including Susheel Rinku, Bal Krishan Bali, Mohinder Singh Gullu and Amit Dhal along with other local leaders  submitted few  representations to the chairman of the committee, however the representations also contains complaints  regarding dilapidated roads, lifting of the garbage and night soil, inadequate street lights system ,unchecked constructions of illegal buildings, with suggestions which include representation of 35 Punjab Police personnel to their parent organisation  in order to save Rs 13 lakh per month to improve the functioning of the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar.