Gurdas Kumar
Early Times Report
Samba, Jan 19: The residents of Samba have sought inclusion of Mandis (the small clusters) adjoining the main town under the jurisdiction of municipal limits for their due development.
The residents alleged that due to lack of political will and ignorance, the municipal council's limits were never extended after its formation.
As per Government order No: 1345 GAD of 2006, the Samba was granted district status in April 2007 and the notified area council of Samba was upgraded to municipal council in the same year, but despite the lapse of eight years, the municipal limits yet have not been expanded reasons better known to authorities and political leaders.
"Most of the areas of the town including Chak Manga, Arazi, Budhwani, Khairi Mandi, Lama Mandi, Dansala Mandi, Pushwalian Mandi, Gorghalian Mandi, Kehli Mandi, Sangwali Mandi and Garh Mandi , which are located in the vicinity of Samba town, still fall beyond the municipal limits and lack due development, "said Shivcharan Singh, a retired ZEO of Sangwali Mandi.
"Of Samba town's total population of 12,000, only 3,000 residents live in municipal area while 9,000 live in adjoining one dozen Mandies which san basic amenities, said Gurcharan Singh of Khairi Mandi.
He added that almost all interior roads and streets of the Mandis are in bad shape while lack of sewage and drainage system tell tale of shabby conditions of these areas reducing them just to a slum.
"From the past eight years, the demand of extension of Municipal limits to include Mandies has been put forth in front of authorities concerned at various levels for consideration, but all in vain, he added. "Despite several memorandums presented to successive state governments, nothing had been done so far," said Karan Singh, retired Colonel and president of Peoples Forum for Human Values (PFHV).
When contacted, Pawan Kumar Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Samba said geographically these areas were located near the town and the local residents have been demanding the inclusion of Mandies in municipal limits since long.
"We have taken up the matter with the authorities concerned and the matter is under consideration," ADC Samba said. |
