Upkar Nagar awaits official favour

LUDHIANA: Pathetic condition of roads, barren parks and heaps of garbage scattered on the road is a common sight in Upkar Nagar where apathy of the civic bodies has forced residents to live under deplorable conditions.
The residents rue that despite registering several complaints authorities have done nothing to ease their problems.
''While the installation of a tube well in the area has been pending for the last one year, we are suffering due to acute water shortage,'' said Rohit Narang, a shopkeeper and resident of the colony.Narang added that they have been crying hoarse over the scarcity of water but the problem remains just the same.
Water problem is only one in a list of woes that the residents have. Describing the condition of roads that are full of potholes, Anil Sharma, an accountant and resident of the area said, ''We are forced to drive on bumpy roads. Many accidents have also occurred in the spot but the area councillor does not listen to us whenever we approach him.''
If it's not potholes, it's the garbage dumped on the main road that has several residents complaining. ''The garbage remains scattered on the road because the corporation's vehicles come late. The foul smell is a real put off here,'' said Kulwinder Gandhi, a shopkeeper who lives near Kailash Cinema Chowk. Gandhi added that the MC is doing such a bad job of clearing litter that even vacant plots are gradually turning into garbage dumps.
Parks in the locality have also been abandoned by the authorities. ''Greenery is very important for any residential locality especially in a city where pollution is such a major problem. Although there are over 10 parks on the main road in this area, none of them are maintained. We have absolutely no place for morning walks or spending sometime in the lap of nature,'' said a student of BCA (I), Keshav Gupta, who is also a resident of Upkar Nagar.
Echoing a similar view, accountant Jaspreet Singh Cheema and resident of the area said other adjoining areas have several developed and beautiful parks but ''here in our locality there is not even a single such place due to the MC's careless attitude.''
MESS OF A PLACE
Upkar Nagar connects the old parts of city with the newly-developed areas and most people take the main road here to avoid getting stuck in massive traffic jams on Civil Lines Road. But residents rue that despite the fact that thousands of vehicles pass through this road everyday, it is lying in a bad condition. Ironically, Upkar Nagar is among those areas where parks were constructed along side the road for ensuring greenery.
THE BUCK STOPS HERE
''Due to the winter season we were not constructing the main road but I assure that this road would be constructed soon,'' said area councillor Sushil Raju Thapar. Regarding the garbage dump he said, ''The garbage lifting vehicles come to the area thrice a day but waste is being collected from several areas in the locality therefore it remains scattered here and there.''
IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Shifting responsibility zonal commissioner of zone-D BK Gupta said, ''If there is any problem related to roads better talk to joint commissioner MS Jaggi who will explain the things.''
But when TOI contacted the joint commissioner he said, ''It is not possible that any road would have been left unrepaired but if Upkar Nagar road is not built there could be some dispute with the contractor. I can tell about it on Monday.''
WHO ALL WERE APPROACHED
- Area councillor
- Officers of health branch for solving problem of garbage dump
- Officers of operation and maintenance department for installation of tube well
- Horticulture branch for improving condition of parks
RESIDENTS OF UPKAR NAGAR CRY FOUL
''There are four schools and one college on the main road but we are not getting anything in the name of basic amenities. We go to schools for picking up our kids from there but instead of keeping an eye on road we have to be careful about the potholes on the road,'' said Abha Arora, homemaker.
''The area councillor has proved a failure in solving our problems despite several complaints. The area is lying in shambles because the corporation officials are not performing their duty,'' said Prem Jain, a home maker.
''Occasionally, like on Sundays, all the neighbours want to get-together but because the parks in the area are not maintained we don't have a place to meet and have to drop our plans,'' said Sudesh Kaur, a homemaker.
''I am a practising CA and have to pass through main road everyday but it takes a hell lot of time to reach the destination due to the big potholes,'' said Mahima Arora, chartered accountant.
''It is dangerous to drive on such roads and some major accidents also have taken place in the area but corporation authorities are turning a blind eye towards our problems,'' said Kamlesh Sachdeva, a homemaker.