Sans basics, residents of Zirakpur hit streets

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, November 8

Representatives of close to a dozen resident welfare associations (RWAs) of housing societies here held a protest against the Zirakpur Municipal Council for not providing the basic amenities.

The protesters took a round of the town in four-wheelers, venting their ire on the ‘apathetic’ officials of the civic body.

The protest began from Bollywood Heights-1 at Peer Muchalla and passed through MS Enclave, the K Area, the Baltana chowk, the Patiala chowk, the Singhpura chowk, VIP Road, the Savitri Heights chowk, the Patiala road and culminated at the Zirakpur bus stand.

Sukhdev Chaudhary, a protester, said, “The council is levying several taxes. Despite this, sewer lines are overflowing. Street lights are non-existent. There is no provision for rainwater harvesting. Stray cattle menace is yet to be reined in and the condition of roads is too bad.”

The residents were dissatisfied with MC officials and want a higher official from the district administration to meet them and redress their grievances twice a month.

Addressing the protesters, advocate Vinay Kumar alleged that due to ‘corrupt’ officials of the council, builders had made a mockery of the master plan.

The residents also sought a transparent mechanism to know the status of the development works being carried out by the civic body.

Ashish of Motia Royal City said, “Builders are making flats in the space reserved for parks and the council is not taking any action.”

Residents of Bollywood Heights, Panchkula Heights, Hillview Enclave, Srishyam Residency, Opera Garden, Shubh Homes, Friends Enclave, Bollywood Heights-2, Trishala Homes, Victoria Heights and Swami Enclave, Hillview Society, Royal Mansion, Bollywood Heights and Holland Park took part in the protest.