 Early Times Report
Jammu, July 25: Lack of drains in Nai Basti has made the life of its residents difficult.
Living on the bank of canal which passes through the area desperately need a drain.
Continuing his mass contact programme, Munish Gupta, Editor Early Times, who would be contesting upcoming assembly elections as an independent candidate from Gandhi Nagar constituency today met residents of Nai Basti, who have been living in very difficult conditions.
"There is no drainage system which forces us to discharge dirty water into the canal. We requested to the local leaders and concerned department to construct drain in the area but our plight was never given importance," said Jagdish Lal, Satpal.
"Recently Irrigation Department had served notices to all the residents living near canal to stop discharging waste water into canal on immediate effect. We asked them that we don't have any other provision to discharge kitchen water. Instead of putting this matter with Municipal Corporation to sort out this matter by constructing drains, Irrigation Department has been giving us notice. We are totally clueless about it. Not only this even there is no sewer line which is very necessary," Sunny Kumar, Anit, Suraj Kumar, Neeta.
Highlighting the issue of a blocked Nallaha, which passes through in the middle of temple premises just near the cremation ground Shastri Nagar present a bad picture of the area and the residents, said that it overflows and its water enters into the houses. "There is a Nallaha which has never been cleaned due to which garbage has accumulated and restricts the flow of dirty water and ultimately overflows. Many Congress and BJP leaders inspected the spot but instead of empty assurances nothing has been done. The water of Nallaha has been damaging to the base of their houses," said Mamta, Unima.
Many residents have been living in poverty and their houses are in dilapidated condition. "Due to constant rain, the roof top of house collapsed and I have no source of income. Even I didn't get any financial assistance," said Darshna. Raising the issue of non cleaning of canal, Chanchal said that the garbage thrown by the people in the canal get stuck at foot bridge in front of their house due to which water overflows and enters into their house. Sometimes local residents dump garage near canal which emanates foul smell but nobody comes from the concerned authority to lift it.
Highlighting issue of Old Age Pension, Samitri Devi said that during elections, leaders make promises of giving them Old Age Pension benefit but they vanish after elections. "My father who is bed ridden at the age of 85 has been deprived of Old Age Pension benefit. We filled up farms four times but nothing was done," said Baby. Skandaya Devi said that her daughters are qualified but are without jobs.
"We are running our life in very difficulty. My husband sells fruit on Rehari to earn livelihood," she said further adding that most of the women living in area are widow and living their life in very difficulty.
Besides this, Munish Gupta also visited some area of Shastri Nagar where residents raised the issue of insanitation of drains which remain blocked and water overflow. "The drains remain blocked and during rains these drains overflow and the water comes into our house," said RL Choudhary, Sanjeev Singh, Sharad, Champa Gupta.
Geeta Devi, an elderly woman, who got widowed few months ago, has been living in sheer poverty. The extent of her poverty can be gauged from that she along with her children living in a single room and earn her livelihood by cleaning utensils in others' houses.
"We are very poor and my husband who used to do labour work died few months ago. Our single room, in which we are living, is in dilapidated room and its roof is leaking in rainy season. Even I don't have toilet facility in my house. No Widow or Old Age Pension has been given to us. It has become very difficult for use to live life," she said. |
