Bad habits dies hard and this is proving true in case of a section of Councillors who are representing their respective wards in Jammu Municipal Corporation. To set the records straight they were elected by citizens for hollistic developments of their wards in terms of better civic amenities. Sadly, it turns into a unholy nexus of contractors, officers and offcourse a handful of councillors.
It’s learnt that in conflict of interest- a handful of Councillors have transformed themselves from Sevadars to Thekeidars and are beating their chests over the innovative move introduced by Commissioner JMC Ms. Avny Lavasa for Door to Door garbage collection (D2D) by adding a fleet of battery operated e-rickshaw and autos. Introduction of e-rickshaws for garbage collection apart from contributing in improving environment is a step in right direction to get rid the corporation from making lofty payments on monthly basis to private transport vendors hired for collection of garbage. Purchase of 89 autos and 66 e rickshaws is a right step towards self sustenance of JMC and crying fowl over it only unmask those claiming to be true Sevadars of public in General House Meetings. Yeh Public Hei Sab Jaanti Hei.
Prevailing poor sanitation condition and prolong delay in collection of heaps of garbage from most of the wards by autos of private vendors shows murky affairs prevailing in hiring of transport vendors as well as engagement of NGOs for supply of SKC’s. The silence of councillors on this nexus which is prevailing between sanitation staff and NGOs is unjustified and indicts of a fishy affair between the trio. There are also reports that some councillors allegedly have engaged their autos through proxies in JMC. Whereas, some have developed penchant for ensuring illegal constructions and installation of iron shutters as per the expectations of their Lalas friends under quid pro quo equation. While, some have un-authorisedly occupied the ward office of JMC meant for sanitation staff. This is a unhealthy trend not expected from public representatives who are supposed to keep close watch on various development activities undertaken by authorities in their wards.
It’s disgusting to see that despite spending crores on repairing of lanes and drains, the situation is deplorable due to absence of grading in drains and faulty laying of interlocking tiles. Strangely, none of the councillors have ever objected to these faulty works. Afterall, the contractors are well versed with art of managing release of payments against the executed work without any objection from engineers and councillors. The sorry state of affairs prevailing in some wards only shows the high fly councillors are only believes in photo session without any focus on ground realities existing in their wards. Merely bragging of changing name of chowks would no way help in ameliorating the sufferings of people residings in Mohallas.
The elected Councillors are supposed to work for improving the basic infrastructure in their wards, ensure succesful implementation of D2D service, educate residents on maintaining hygiene in their surroundings and above all work in unison to push JMC towards self sustenance. They need to justify their position and realise that they are representing citizens and not a couple of vyaparis and Thekeidars in Council of JMC.