Jammu Tawi: Sunil Dimple, president Mission Statehood, led a protest rally on Wednesday, in which a large group of traders and residents participated. The rally took place on Amphalla, Janipur High Court Road, and involved blocking traffic to draw attention to the deteriorating civic conditions in Jammu city. Protesters demanded immediate action from the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), Jammu Development Authority (JDA), and Public Works Department (PWD) to address sanitation, road conditions, and traffic issues.
Dimple criticized the JMC for the worsening sanitation situation, pointing out that all 75 wards are plagued by poor cleanliness due to a shortage of sanitation workers, supervisors, and transport vehicles. He noted that despite the significant revenue collected by the JMC from residents, businesses, and construction activities, the corporation fails to provide essential services. Dimple also claimed that the government’s push for privatizing the municipal corporation would only benefit contractors, leading to job losses and affecting the livelihoods of sanitation workers.
The protest leader highlighted that Jammu city has become overrun with garbage and waste due to the ongoing strike by safai karamcharis. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to direct the JMC to stop harassing citizens and traders through actions like confiscating goods and conducting demolition drives in city markets.
Dimple pointed out that waste is accumulating throughout various areas, including New Plot, Sarwal, Rehari, Janipur, Bakshi Nagar, and Talab Tillo, which adversely affects the city’s reputation among visitors. He demanded immediate steps from the PWD to start blacktopping roads in the entire city, with specific emphasis on West Constituency.
Dimple also urged the government to begin a metro train service from Amphalla Manda to Janipur High Court, Roopnagar, Bantalab, and up to Akhnoor.
Criticizing the government for a decade of stagnant development in Jammu, Dimple demanded immediate action from the LG to address these long-standing civic issues.
