A huge pile of garbage. Tribune photo

Lovleen Bains

Doraha, December 29

The administration, police officials, PSPCL employees, representatives of educational institutions and NGOs of Doraha made constructive efforts to bring about a healthy change in the town. Different welfare schemes were brought in by the government, however, the problem of sewer accumulation, unplanned garbage disposal, broken roads, unabated use of plastic, and traffic congestion however remained unresolved.

The long-pending demand of residents of Doraha was fulfilled as the foundation stone of Community Health Centre was laid in the name of former Chief Minister Beant Singh at Doraha. The foundation stone of the new building of the police station of Doraha was also laid this year in the name of late CM Beant Singh.

The Doraha block was considered as a model block for solid waste management project. A treatment plant near Buani village is being set up with the support of the World Bank. Smart cards were distributed to a good number of beneficiaries in Doraha.

A special campaign against the drug trafficking and misdemeanors was initiated by the Doraha police in which 3 kg of opium, 41 kg of poppy husk, 21 kg of ganga, 58,200 intoxicating tablets, 64 injections, 115 gram heroin, 20 gram intoxicating powder, 1-kg charas, 450.5 litre of illicit liquor, five revolvers, 18 cartridges, Rs 8, 34, 460 of gambled money was recovered.

The PSPCL Department at Doraha initiated a move to install powerful gripping wires and replacement of transformers for better sustenance and quality.

Residents, educational institutions along with the administration and police worked together to keep the environment clean and healthy. The Doraha police along with the active support of the administration kept a tab on stubble burning in the area. The Extension Cell of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, adopted 32 villages and identified the marginal farmers to supply them agri-machinery with the assistance of the Agriculture Department and CII Foundation.

All government and non-government organisations tried their best to check the spread of Covid. Payal DSP Hardeep Singh Cheema, a frontline warrior, prepared teams of duty officials and civilians to tackle the pandemic.

Different social media groups, created by agri-scientists and agri-entrepreneurs, assisted the farmers to sell their produce in a hassle-free manner.

Amid the Covid-19 crisis, the first-ever online examination for the exit semester of various courses of Panjab University was conducted. Most of the students belonging to the scheduled caste category could not continue with their studies as funds for the post-matric scholarship were not released.

All unions, associations and organisations of Doraha collaborated with the farm bodies to protest against the agri lawss.

Broken and potholed roads remain a source of inconvenience to commuters and residents of Doraha and surrounding villages. The Neelon-Doraha stretch, where the proposed work on ROB is to be initiated, reduced the lives of the commuters to a virtual hell. The problem of sewer disposal ails the town for years. Doraha-Jaipura road is the worst hit by sewer overflow. Ward Number 3, 5, 8, 11, 14 and the main market road has sewer water stagnating for days together. Proper garbage disposal is poorly missing in the town.

The problem of traffic congestion in Doraha is far from being resolved. The mess created by haphazard parking has aggravated the situation for the road users. Despite orders banning the use of Chinese string, the sale and purchase went on in a disguised manner.

Expectations

Solution to traffic congestion is urgently sought.
Adequate space to be provided for garbage disposal.
Water treatment plant should be set up at the earliest to ease the sewer woes of the residents.
Work of ROB on Neelon-Doraha should begin at the earliest.
Complete ban should be imposed on plastics and Chinese string in the town

Highs

Foundation stone of Community Health Center laid in the name of former Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Doraha block considered as a model block for solid waste management project.
Treatment plant near Buani village being set up with the support of the World Bank.
Special campaign against the drug trafficking initiated by the Doraha police.

Lows

Neelon-Doraha stretch, where the proposed work on ROB is to be initiated, badly pot-holed.
Problem of sewer disposal ails the town for years.
Huge open dump a black spot on the fair name of the town.
The problem of traffic congestion in Doraha far from being resolved.
Unabated use of plastic bags in the town.