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MC fails to improve drainage system
Authorities attribute it to lack of govt funds
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, April 28
More than three years after the Municipal Committee was elected in this border township, it has failed to improve the drainage and sewerage system. While as the municipal committee authorities here wait for the funds from the government to improve the drainage and sewerage, the district administration says that the urban body has to generate income on its own for carrying out such activities.

With the threat of epidemic looming large on their heads in view of the coming rainy season, residents said the Municipal Committee should act fast to solve the basic problems of drainage and sewerage. They said in areas, including Jawahar Nagar, DC Colony, area adjoining to Salani Bridge, Bus Stand and Ward No. 10, the problem of poor drainage and sewerage was worse and needed urgent attention from the urban civic body.

“It has been more than 15 years since the damaged lanes and drains were repaired in the town. If these lanes and drains are not repaired now, water logging can cause havoc in the town and may lead to outbreak of epidemic”, said Nadeem Ahmed, a resident of the old town. “I suspect that municipal committee councillors have forgotten their duties. We elected them just to solve these problems. They will have to manage the repairs”, he added.

Whereas the municipal committee authorities agree that the damaged lanes and drains have not been repaired for decades together, they attribute it to the lack of funds from the government.

Chairman of the Rajouri Municipal Committee Rajinder Gupta admitted that the lanes and drains had not been repaired for quite a long time now, but “Though the government held elections for the Municipal Committee, it failed to provide monetary support to us.” “It is the government who has to provide us funds for carrying out the repairs of lanes and drains. We on many occasions have asked for funds for our various schemes to improve drainage and sewerage, but so far money has not been provided by it”, he added.

Nullifying the assertions of the chairman of the Municipal Committee, deputy commissioner Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed told The Tribune that the Municipal Committee had to generate the income on its own and to use it for improving drainage and sewerage of the town. “Though the committee needs to generate income by levying various types of taxes, they have failed in doing so”, the DC said.

The DC said “We have sent a proposal to the government for repairs of lanes and drains, and are awaiting funds for the same.”