Panchkula, once called the Paris of Haryana – one of the youngest and planned cities – is now poised to become a vast area of forest.
The dividers are full of grass, weeds and bushes, the squares built at the cost of crores are poorly maintained. Tiles can be seen breaking from the edges. The bicycle stands are lush with uncut trees and abandoned curbs.
All this could have made for a beautiful forest, except that Panchkula is a city.
Even though at least 40 people were recently hired by the Municipal Corporation (MC) for the purpose of pruning trees and maintaining greenery, their duties are yet to be shown on the ground.
“While dengue is spreading rapidly in Panchkula, around 400 dengue cases have been reported and many unruly, unruly weeds, shrubs, Congress grass and parthenium are contributing to the spread of dengue larvae in the city. It is indeed shocking that despite three dengue deaths, in a particular block Sector 10, within a month, bushes can be seen growing high. This makes us feel that we are living in the forest by paying urban taxes. Bharat Hiteshi, President, House Owners Welfare Association Sector 10, said, “There is an urgent need for tree pruning in all 243 parks of Panchkula, to check the spread of dengue.
It should be noted that it has been only 10 months since the elections were held in Panchkula along with the municipal elections. The citizens were promised a “clean, green and self-sustaining city” by BJPMayor candidate of Haryana as well as local MLA and Speaker of Haryana Legislative Assembly Gyanchand Gupta.
However, elected representatives do not mind. Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, in his manifesto released at the time of municipal elections in 2020, had assured the people of development works in Panchkula Corporation. He had claimed that development works worth crores of rupees have been done by the BJP government in the rural areas of Panchkula.
“The BJP government is working relentlessly to improve the living standards of the people. 100 crores was collected by the MC through various means and also given by the central government. There is a BJP government at the Center and in the state and Gyan Chand Gupta is the president and local MLA. If people choose a mayor from BJP in MC, they will see the real development of their city,” he had said. The mayor had made more promises including “all-round development of Panchkula on the lines of smart city”, but the hollow promises are yet to be implemented.
“In the area of Mansa Devi Complex Sector 4, there are unruly bushes 15 to 20 feet high. These bushes are in the rear part of the society number 34 to 38 adjoining the railway line. People use this place for defecation, as a result of which the area becomes dirty and infested with mosquitoes. Despite several requests from MC officials, no action has been initiated,” said Vijay Gupta, chairman, RWA MDC Sector 5.
“Tall grass denotes the state of cleanliness. MC has failed to keep its promise. No proper measures are being taken by the Municipal Corporation to keep the Sector 20 area clean. Also the situation in front of Kundi village is pathetic. The mayor and commissioner also seem less upset. Grass is also spreading on the roads of the surrounding societies. Urgent measures are needed to keep the city a city and convert it into a wild,” said Yoginder Kwatra, RWA, Sector 20, Panchkula.
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