Congress MLA, mayor in saddle, infra works get fillip

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, June 13

With the Mayor and MLA belonging to the same political dispensation, several major developmental projects have been fast-tracked, giving a much-needed respite to locals.

If major works have to be ushered, the correct political linkage between the first citizen and the MLA acts as a catalyst in setting up in such ventures. In 2015, the city had a BJP MLA in Ashwani Sharma while newly elected Mayor Avil Vasudeva belonged to the same party. Some vital projects were executed till Amit Vij, a Congressman, got elected in 2017. The slanging matches between Vij and Vasudeva were too common to go unnoticed and with it infrastructural projects like building of new roads, widening of existing ones and works pertaining to establishing new water supply and sewerage came to a grinding halt. However, all that has changed now with Congressman Heera Lal Bhatia being elected as the first citizen.

“After a long time, the drains running through the city are being desilted and subsequently, they will be covered. Bitumen is being laid on a war-footing on the Dhangu road, APK road and Lamini road. Politicking has been relegated to the sidelines. For a normal resident, what matters is the condition of roads, proper water supply and sewerage. Nothing else matters,” said hotelier Ashish Vij.

An insider disclosed MLA Vij was taking a keen interest in the civic affairs because Pathankot Assembly seat was predominantly an urban area. “Hence work done by the MC will not only reflect in his report card but will also help him garner votes in the 2022 poll,” said an MC official.

Gurdaspur Parliamentary constituency has two Municipal Corporations, Pathankot and Batala, while all the other cities have committees or councils.

In Batala, developmental projects like laying of sewerage and widening of existing roads are being taken up on priority. “This infrastructure upgrade is visible in Pathankot and Batala. Earlier, when the political equations between the MLA and Mayor failed to match, projects were planned and executed only on paper,” said a Batala councillor.

SAD leader Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal is the sitting Batala MLA. However, Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa is the one who rules the roost while Mayor Sukhdeep Singh Teja is his handpicked man. “Both are from the Congress and hence are on the same page,” said a senior officer.