| Jammu fountains dry up, authorities unmoved | | | Bijay Charak
Jammu, Aug 20: Majority of fountains installed at various locations across Jammu city to enhance its beauty are lying defunct but concerned authorities are mum over the issue. More than 22 fountains have been dysfunctional for quite some time. Some of these defunct fountains in the heart of city such as Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Bikram Chowk, Indra Chowk and Gujjar Nagar, Shaheedi Chowk are conspicuous examples of government apathy but concerned department instead of taking up the responsibility for their maintenance are interested in installation of new ones. Sources informed that the civic body had installed waterfalls and fountains in various parks seven to eight years ago but for the past three years they have been dysfunctional with no water and are being used as a dustbin by the locals. "The maintenance of the fountains has been entrusted with firms and companies that have erected their hoardings in the surrounding of fountains for advertisement purposes, but these firms never bother to repair these fountains", an official said. He further said that apathetic attitude Public Welfare Department and Jammu Development Authority could be well gauged from the fact that they never bothered to enquire whether those entrusted with the job of maintaining the fountains, were doing their job or not. Rajeev Singh of Shaheedi Chowk said that if these fountains are not to be maintained and made functional properly, then why were these put in place by spending peoples' money? A student of Jammu University said that the rain water accumulated in the fountains has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, posing threat of outbreak of diseases like malaria and dengue. Mohd Aslam resident of Gujjar Nagar said, "Due to lack of proper attention from the concerned , these fountains have become a place of distraction rather than attraction. What kind of beauty they are adding to the city?, he questioned.
"We have got beautiful fountains along with gardens in entire Jammu city, however, we have not been able to understand that why concerned department is not taking steps to maintain them? If they really think that the fountains are not necessary in the area, why did they spend lakhs of rupees over them?", he added. |
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