By Prof. Barkat Singh Azad The officers visit the city in March, construct some hundred or a couple of hundred feet long wall, prepare bills at exorbitant cost and swindle funds.

The Poonch city was once the capital of Poonch principality consisting of four Tehsils viz Haveli, Mendhar, Sadhnuti and Bagh. The partition of 1947, which is a historical tragedy, also snatched the beauty and glamour of this small, but charming city. The city has also suffered set back in the name of development after partition. The gardens and parks have been converted into army cantonments, government buildings and private bastis. The prestigious Moti Mahal and Baldev Mahal, the seat of the Poonch Empire have been turned into army base while another symbol of our glorious past houses a girls school. In this way all the glorious things that were the pride of this city have been snatched. The main city has become a slum due to increasing population and decreasing amenities. Unplanned expansion in terms of buildings and bazaars has been going on unabated and no proper system of drainage and lanes and roads exists in the township and whatever little bit is existing is without proper maintenance.

Three dirty nallas (drains)- from powerhouse to Mohalla Azad; from Mohalla Khorinar passing through Mohalla Shian, Mohalla Panditan and Bus Stand and from Mohalla Kamsar Dungas passing through Shanker Nagar have been creating immense pollution hazards. People throw their domestic waste in these Nallahs. The debris of fallen houses is also thrown there rendering them choked with the result that heaps of garbage, filth, used polythene bags and dirty water come on the roads and streets destroying the cleanliness of the city and making miserable the life of people after rains. The authorities are dumb and deaf, but very apt in passing the buck. If the District administration says it is the responsibility of Municipal Council, the MCP shifts the responsibility on the UEED that has no office in the city. The officers visit the city in March, construct some hundred or a couple of hundred feet long wall, prepare bills at exorbitant cost and swindle funds. The condition of lanes and drains in other parts of the city is simply pathetic. In such a situation does the slogans of the State Government about Khushal Kashmir not look absurd?

If the Government has an iota of sincerity it should take the following steps in Poonch city without delay:

1. Desilting of the above mentioned nallahs and other drains;

2. Provision of garbage bins at various locations and identification of places for dumping waste material and its frequent removal by the Municipal Council;

3. Diverting the existing nallahs at different points and throwing them in the river instead of culminating them at the existing point that is Mohalla Azad, as was done prior to partition; 

4. A full-fledged office with enough staff be established at Poonch;

5. Regular maintenance of lanes and drains;

6. Putting a curb on digging of lanes for laying PHE and telephone lines every now and then;

7. And allowing new constructions in planned manner only.    

The task is simple, but only if the Government has a resolve to accomplish it. Mere raising slogans is just ridiculous and people don’t like this.