From roads to sewerage, locals seek basic amenities
Situated on the Batala Road, formerly known as Kashmir Road, Verka presents a blend of new and old. The old part with several residential localities continues to grapple with problems pertaining to civic amenities, while the outer area of the town is undergoing a rapid change with modern architecture taking over lush fields.
A suburb of Amritsar, residential localities in Verka present a picture of neglect as these areas continue to grapple with civic amenities. Several roads riddled with potholes are crying for attention and immediate repair work. The disparity is apparent — with progress on the highways and deplorable condition of internal roads. Most streets in the area need recarpeting. People are also deprived of proper sewerage and water supply.
A nullah flows in the area from Verka to the milk plant side. People residing around the nullah face inconvenience. They cross the nullah with the help of concrete slabs by putting their lives at risk.
Rajesh Salwan, a resident of Verka, said the partially covered nullah was the nightmare for the people. After covering a part of the nullah, officials of the department concerned did not return to finish the task. Repeated enquiries revealed that the tender was passed for covering a given length of the drain and the rest of the part would be covered in the next tender, which is subject to availability of funds.
However, residential localities have come up on either side of the nullah, which is a source of permanent stink, with mosquitoes creating an unhygienic environment for the families.
Adding to the woes are some residents who dump garbage in the nullah. Some industrial units in the area also discharge their waste water into it. During rains, the nullah overflows and toxic water enters houses.
The areas were developed several years ago, but there has been no development in these localities. A visit to various localities on the Verka Road revealed that many streets are still unpaved. In many areas, the residents are still deprived of the basic amenities. In most cases, a decently paved street is a distant dream. The residents complained that streets are often flooded with sewage and water.
A large garbage heap, just outside the government school in the area, shows the Swachh Bharat Mission in poor light. The project has failed to bring any change in the lives of the people living here. The residents point towards mound of garbage under the flyover. A little farther, the people can be seen crossing the nullah by the 1.5 feet wide bridge, which they claimed they had constructed by pooling money. Rajwinder Kaur, a resident of Mohan Nagar in the Verka Road area, said she had turned old in hope of better civic amenities.
Sarbjit Singh, another resident of Verka, says: “Most of the areas are still devoid of potable water. The sewerage system remains choked. No thought has ever been spared to set up a proper healthcare facility.”
On the outskirts of Verka, several residential colonies are being carved out by colonisers, while a nationally acclaimed Dehradun-based boarding school has opened its branch and a privately run institution of higher learning was already functioning.
Officials of the Municipal Corporation stated that the repair of internal roads of Verka would be carried out on priority and the partially open drain would be covered under a project.
Punjab