- विज्ञापन -
Sultanpur Lodhi (Punjab): Sultanpur Lodhi, recognized as a Smart City in 2019 to mark the 550th Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev, is struggling to meet the expectations that come with this designation, especially with the 555th Gurpurb celebrations approaching. Significant initiatives, such as the Rs 500-crore project to create a heritage village called ‘Pind Babe Nanak Da,’ have yet to commence, and the town’s basic infrastructure is lacking.
With the Gurpurb just two days away, the condition of the town’s roads remains poor. This is underscored by the fact that Local Bodies Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh had to make three trips in the past three weeks to ensure road repairs were underway ahead of the Parkash Utsav on November 15. During a recent visit, he announced that a show-cause notice was served to the Superintending Engineer of PWD (B&R) and the XEN of the Sewerage Board for failing to meet project deadlines. As the event approaches, workers have begun laying interlocking tiles to fill the trenches dug for sewerage work.
An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 pilgrims from Punjab and other regions are expected to attend the Gurpurb celebration. A nagar kirtan is planned for Thursday, but the patchy and dusty roads continue to be a concern. Historically significant, Sultanpur Lodhi is about 47 km from Jalandhar and was home to Guru Nanak for 14 years, featuring eight gurdwaras including the prominent Gurdwara Ber Sahib.
Navtej Cheema, a former Congress MLA who initiated local development projects, noted the poor condition of roads, particularly around Gurdwara Ber Sahib, and has requested that officials cover the dust with mats. He criticized the AAP government for neglecting waste management, as garbage is not collected daily.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Balbir S Seechewal has also highlighted the inadequacies in the town’s sewerage system, which remains incomplete, while local MLA (Independent) Rana Inder Partap pointed out the issue of non-working streetlights. He expressed frustration over the lack of light during the celebrations, stating that the government and local authorities have failed to fulfill their responsibilities.
