Wait gets longer: Juhi Enclave will get new roads by October

LUDHIANA: Despite the National Lok Adalat orders, the Juhi Enclave residents will have to wait till October to get new roads. For, the monsoon has stalled the construction work.
After their repeated pleas to the municipal corporation to repair roads, which are potholed and muddy, fell on deaf ears, the Juhi Enclave residents knocked on the door of National Lok Adalat. Even as it ruled in their favour, nothing was done. After the court ordered attachment of vehicle of the MC commissioner for not providing basic amenities to the residents, the civic body swung into action. It has now completed the tendering process for construction of roads in the area. Though the work will begin after monsoon, the base for road will be prepared.
On Tuesday, the condition of the colony was pathetic as rainwater filled potholes, giving commuters a tough time. Also, a foul smell filled the air.
Juhi Enclave Residents’ Welfare Society secretary advocate Baldev Kumar said, “The colony was developed near Jawala Singh Chowk in 2005 by a realtor. It was transferred to the civic body for further development and maintenance works. When despite several requests the MC did nothing for many years, we approached the National Lok Adalat.”
“The National Lok Adalat, in its judgement on December 4, 2020, had asked the MC officials to construct roads and constitute three park management committees to handle the green belts of the colony. The MC was to complete this task in six months. But when the officials did not act, the residents again reached the National Lok Adalat and on May 25 the attachment orders were issued. Thereafter, the MC officials started the work process. We have shown the way to other residents to fight against injustice,” he added.
“The Juhi Enclave residents have been waiting for basic amenities for at least 13 years, as the colony was developed in 2005. They purchased plots because it was PUDA approved. In 2018, we had approached the National Lok Adalat that decided in our favour in 2020. Despite that, the MC officials took two years till attachment orders were issued,” said another resident.
MC additional commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said, “We will prepare the road by levelling it and filling it with stones. And when the rainy season will get over, we will lay bitumen. The park management committees have already been formed.”
MLA inaugurates
road work
MLA from North constituency Madan Lal Bagga inaugurated road work in Juhi Enclave on Tuesday, even as the MC is yet to issue work orders to the contractor hired for the project. “It seems the AAP MLA was in a hurry to get credit for the work that is being done following the intervention of National Lok Adalat,” said an MC official.