Choked drains, stinking ponds mar growth in Khattar’s village

Satish Seth

Kaithal, July 29

The district’s largest village Keorak, recently adopted by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, was declared a model village more than 10 years ago when then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda visited the village.

Having a population of about 20,000 and more than 10,000 voters, the village, 10 km from here, lacks basic civic amenities. Villagers complain about the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in the hospital. The schools have poor infrastructure.

District BJP president Rajpal Pal Tanwar and Gujjar leader Rao Surendra Singh, both natives of the village, are optimistic that the village will be developed as a model one.

From 2005 to 2009, senior Congress leader SS Surjewala was the Kaithal MLA when Keorak was declared a model village. He and his son Randeep Singh Surjewala, sitting Kaithal MLA, both claim they did their best to develop the village during their respective tenures.

Mohan Lal Sharma, who recently relinquished the charge of a sarpanch, is happy that Khattar has adopted Keorak. “There have been some development in the village, but more needs to be done.”

Villagers acknowledge the construction of roads and Primary Health Centre, and other development works. But there is no change in the living standards of the people. Choked sewers, stinking and overflowing drains are a common site. The poor drainage system has added to people’s problems.

Water from the overflowing drains flows into the village ponds and accumulates at vacant panchayat land and plots, polluting the environment.

To speed up development in the village, Amarinder Singh, OSD posted at Karnal house of CM, accompanied by officials, had visited the village during the past two months.

“Contrary to claims of development by elected representatives, the village looks like a slum,” he said and assured villagers a blueprint for the development of the village was being prepared.

Meanwhile, villagers Rao Surendra, Rajinder Tanwar and others said they wanted doctors and paramedical staff in the hospital, a women’s college, a grain market and a bus stand in the village.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) KM Pandurang said a village development plan was being prepared and a follow-up action would be taken soon.