Congress leader demands faster ROB/RUB construction and immediate alternative routes for residents, farmers and traders
CHANDIGARH | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Sirsa MP, former Union Minister, Congress General Secretary and CWC member Kumari Selja has taken up with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw the issue of important roads that have remained closed for a prolonged period due to the construction of a railway overbridge and underbridge in Jakhal Mandi and Jakhal town of Fatehabad district.
In a letter to the Railway Minister, Selja urged the Ministry to expedite the ongoing construction work and, until the projects are completed, immediately provide a safe temporary or alternative route to ensure smooth movement of the general public as well as uninterrupted access to the grain market.
Selja said that residents of Jakhal Mandi and Jakhal town, located in Fatehabad district and falling within her parliamentary constituency, are facing considerable difficulties because several important routes connecting the town and the grain market have remained closed for a long period owing to the construction of the railway overbridge and underbridge.
She said the disruption has severely affected the daily movement of farmers, commission agents, traders, labourers, transporters and ordinary residents. People who depend on these routes for their daily activities are being forced to use longer alternative routes, resulting in additional expenditure of both time and money.
According to Selja, the situation has particularly affected activities at Jakhal grain market, which is an important centre for agricultural trade in the area. Farmers are facing difficulties in bringing their produce to the market and transporting it from the market to other destinations. The disruption is also affecting traders, labourers and transport operators associated with agricultural activities.
She said that development projects are undertaken for public convenience and infrastructure improvement, but the execution of such projects should also take into account the daily requirements of the people living and working in the affected areas.
“During construction, it is essential to ensure that people’s daily lives and economic activities are not unnecessarily disrupted,” she said, stressing that uninterrupted access to an important commercial centre such as a grain market is particularly important for farmers and traders.
Selja requested the Railway Minister to issue necessary directions to the concerned railway authorities to accelerate the construction of the ROB and RUB so that the projects can be completed at the earliest possible time.
At the same time, she sought an immediate arrangement for a safe temporary or alternative route between Jakhal town and the grain market until construction is completed. Such an arrangement, she said, would provide relief to residents and help minimise the impact of the ongoing infrastructure work on agricultural and commercial activities.
The Congress leader also called for regular monitoring of the construction work to ensure that the projects do not face unnecessary delays. She said that residents of Jakhal have been facing difficulties for a long time and deserve a permanent solution at the earliest.
She maintained that infrastructure development should ultimately improve connectivity and public convenience. Therefore, while the long-term objective of constructing the ROB and RUB is important, adequate arrangements must be made during the construction phase so that residents, farmers and traders are not left struggling for basic access.
Selja’s intervention comes against the backdrop of growing concerns among local residents regarding the prolonged closure of important routes. The issue has significance for the wider agricultural economy of Jakhal, where smooth connectivity to the grain market is essential for the movement of farm produce and vehicles.
She urged the Railway Ministry and its field authorities to treat the matter as a priority and take immediate steps both to accelerate construction and provide safe alternative connectivity.
Government Must Fulfil Promises Made to Sanitation Workers, Free Cities from Garbage: Selja
Sirsa MP, former Union Minister, Congress General Secretary and CWC member Kumari Selja has urged the Haryana government to immediately fulfil the promises made to sanitation workers and provide them relief from their long-pending demands.
Selja said that sanitation workers are an essential part of the state’s cleanliness and public health system, and repeatedly forcing them to resort to protests and strikes because of unfulfilled assurances is unfair to the workers as well as the general public.
She said that sanitation workers perform an important public service and that the legitimate demands of these workers should not be kept pending for prolonged periods. The assurances given by the government during negotiations and agreements, she said, should be implemented on the ground instead of remaining confined to announcements and official documents.
According to Selja, the ongoing strike has affected sanitation services in several cities of Haryana, including Sirsa, where garbage has accumulated on roads and in markets. The situation, she said, is creating concerns over public hygiene and increasing the risk of the spread of diseases.
She urged the government to engage with sanitation workers, resolve their demands through dialogue and ensure an early end to the strike. At the same time, she called for an immediate cleanliness drive across the affected cities so that accumulated garbage can be removed and residents can be provided a clean and healthy environment.
Selja said that the government must recognise the contribution of sanitation workers and ensure that their legitimate demands are addressed in a fair and time-bound manner. She stressed that a sustainable solution to the issue would benefit not only the workers but also millions of residents who depend on efficient sanitation services every day.
