Khangura lambasts authorities for failure of civic amenities in Ludhiana - 14/07/2009

Senior Congress leader and Qila Raipur MLA, Jassi Khangura today criticised the local civic authorities for their failure to provide basic amenities to the people in Ludhiana. He pointed out, the recent showers had already inundated most parts of the city, while the worst was yet to happen as this was only the beginning of the monsoons.

In a statement issued here today, Khangura also drew the attention of the authorities towards the outbreak of the grastroentritis in the city. Preliminary reports suggest that hundreds of people have already been suffering from the diseases and more cases were pouring in.

He said, while the government had already admitted to its failure on power front by saying it could do little but on the civic front at least it could do a great deal with affirmative action. “But this government seems to lack the vision and initiative of doing anything even if it requires minimum efforts”, he regretted.

The Congress MLA had drawn the attention of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal towards the civic problems in the city last year as well but nothing happened even till today. “We still have the inundated roads and markets, garbage dumps piling up and people contracting contagious diseases with authorities remaining unabashedly callous and sloth stricken”, he remarked.

Khangura said, the situation in Ludhiana was the direct outcome of the neglect it has been subjected to despite maximum tax revenues, whether local or central, generated from here.

He regretted, the men and machinery from Ludhiana were being transported to Bathinda and other areas of the state where the Chief Minister had personal and political stakes. He pointed out, two sewer men from Ludhiana Municipal Corporation died while cleaning the drains in Mansa as they had been sent their against all the municipal laws just because Chief Minister’s daughter-in-law was contesting from Bathinda parliamentary constituency and the people there had to be obliged. “And now our men and machines must be cleaning the drains in Jalalalbad where Chief Minister’s son Mr Sukhbir Badal is seeking byelection”, Khangura remarked.

The Qila Raipur MLA said, while Mr Badal is welcome to provide facilities to the people in the area where he has personal stakes, but it must not be done at the cost of others. “Moreover, we in Ludhiana have also the right to have proper roads, clean lanes and proper drainage system so that we don’t get flooded even by mild showers”, he observed, while adding, it is high time that the local authorities rose to the occasion and took preventive and preemptive measures before the full arrival of the monsoons.

Khangura appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that minimum amenities were provided to the people for which they have been paying from their own pockets. “Otherwise we would be forced to come on to the streets”, he warned.