LUDHIANA: About 1,000 people, who were moved from a colony near Jagraon Bridge to Mundian flats, spent sleepless night on Tuesday. With the
municipal corporation failing to ensure basic facilities, the flats are yet to get electricity connections and some of them are without
water supply.
Even as an overhead tank fed by tube-wells has been constructed to cater to the flats, many of the houses lack facilities to receive the supply. “My flat does not have a water supply valve. And those who are receiving the supply from the overhead tank are complaining about low pressure. The civic body moved residents in haste. It should have first ensured that facilities were in place,” said Ravinder Kumar, a private sector employee.
Many of the residents have to queue up for water tankers. “The MC tankers are no solution as they are supplying contaminated water,” Kumar said.
“Windowpanes of many flats are broken, electricity wires are missing and so are taps in kitchen and bathroom. Rooftops tanks are damaged and filthy,” said Ashok Kumar, a senior citizen.
Aarti, a homemaker, said they had been getting water from the tankers, as there were no taps or water tank connections. Her neighbour Veena Devi said, “The doors have no bolts. Empty liquor bottles are lying at the rear, which is filthy.”
As complaints flooded the civic body, it appointed a team to look into the water problems.
Akash Kumar, a resident, said, “My family and I spent sleepless night outside as the flats have no power connection and there are mosquitoes inside.”
Sonu, a private sector employee, said, “Most of our belongings are lying outside as flats are too small to accommodate anything. Our houses have been demolished and we have been moved here. We have no option.”
Saroj, a home-maker, said, “The municipal corporation’s flat allotment system is faulty. After we moved, a man came knocking and claimed that the flat was allotted to him. He was not a resident of our colony near Jagraon Bridge, then how can he be allotted a flat?”
MC commissioner Jaskiran Singh said, “We are making arrangements for the families, but it will take some time. Temporary electricity arrangements have been made. For permanent power connections, they will have to wait. Water supply has been provided and the problem of low water pressure and missing infrastructure will be resolved soon.”
In Mundian, 736 basic services to urban poor flats are constructed. On Tuesday, 110 families were moved there from the colony near Jagraon Bridge. Rest of the flats are empty. The colony is being demolished to reconstruct a part of the Jagraon Bridge.
Razing on, debris piles up
The MC teams continued with the demolition drive near Jagraon Bridge on Wednesday. The officials claimed that all structures would be razed by evening, but were mum when asked how long removal of debris would take. “We have no orders for removing debris,” said an official.
Representative image