This winter, waterproof night shelters set up in Patiala city

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 25

After facing flak over substandard material used for night shelters last year, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has already built waterproof shelters for the homeless this year.

To provide shelter to the poverty-stricken, the MC has set up three temporary night shelters — near the railway station, near Khanda Chowk and near Kali Devi Temple. They are equipped with heaters, CCTV and bedding, the three shelters can house at least 100 needy persons at a time.

Last year, the MC had to serve a notice on the contractor over lack of facilities and poor quality of material used at the temporary night shelters. The night shelters, however, do not draw many visitors.

Shiv Kumar, caretaker at the Kali Mata Temple night shelter, said: “As the night shelters have only been started a few days ago, not many are availing of the facility.” Last night, six to seven people had stayed at the night shelter. Satnam Singh (41), a labourer, who had spent a night at the Khanda Chowk night shelter said: “They provided me with bedding and quilt. The heaters were helpful to beat the cold. I felt comfortable at the night shelter.”

Meanwhile, Poonam Deep Kaur, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said they had improved the quality of the night shelters this year. She said: “This year, we gave the contract only after making sure that the material being used was good. This time, unlike last year, the shelters are waterproof.”

On why people are not availing of the facilities, she replied: “We will soon be starting a drive with the help of the traffic police to bring the homeless to night shelters.”