9 months ago
Malerkotla District Faces Infrastructure and Administrative Challenges Four Years Post-Establishment
Imagine you get a new toy, but there's no room to play with it and no instructions on how to use it.
That's kind of like Malerkotla, a new district in Punjab, India.
It was made a district a few years ago, but the grown-ups in charge didn't build a proper office for the main leaders, the Deputy Commissioner and the police chief.
They also don't have special houses to live in for their work.
The roads are very messy and dirty, like a playground that hasn't been cleaned.
This is happening because it's hard to find space to build things, and sometimes decisions are made for reasons other than just making sure things work well.
While some new buildings and hospitals are planned, it's taking a very long time to get them built.
People are hoping things will get better soon so the district can work properly.
Malerkotla, Punjab's youngest and Muslim-majority district, established in May 2021, suffers from poor infrastructure and administrative disarray.
Top officials, including the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police, lack permanent offices and official residences.
Residents complain about unhygienic conditions, widespread garbage, and dilapidated roads, with some stating the district lacks basic development.
Land acquisition and transfer for essential infrastructure like the District Administrative Complex (DAC) and a new medical college have faced significant delays.
Despite promises, key projects including a new bus stand and restoration of a historical palace remain uninitiated, with some officials attributing delays to political motivations for the district's creation.
- Who
- Residents and administrative officials of Malerkotla, Punjab
- What
- Malerkotla district, established four years ago, faces significant challenges with poor infrastructure, lack of permanent administrative buildings and residences, and unfulfilled development projects.
- Where
- Malerkotla, Punjab, India
- When
- Four years after being declared a district in May 2021
- Why
- Lack of adequate planning, funding, and land availability for infrastructure development following its declaration as a district, which some believe was a political decision.
Government Officials
Residents and Some Officials
Development Progress and Causes of Delay
Government Officials
Officials acknowledge delays but state processes take time, land transfers are now complete for major projects, garbage dumps are being cleared, and new projects like a medical college and ESI hospital are on track. They also cite community participation is needed for cleanliness and that tenders have been floated for road repairs after monsoon damage.
Residents and Some Officials
Residents and some officials express frustration with poor infrastructure, citing unpaved roads, garbage, and lack of basic facilities. Some officials privately admit that the district was created for political reasons without adequate administrative planning and funding, leading to visible lack of development.
Land Availability
Government Officials
The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) states that land availability has been the main constraint due to limited government-owned land, but work will start soon and land transfer for the DAC is now complete.
Residents and Some Officials
Despite promises, progress on projects like the medical college, bus stand, and palace restoration has been slow due to difficulties in securing land, with land only recently finalized for the medical college and other projects yet to begin.
Key facts
- District Status
- Punjab's 23rd, youngest, smallest, and only Muslim-majority district
- Date of District Declaration
- May 14, 2021
- Administrative Buildings Status
- Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) without official residences or permanent offices; District Administrative Complex (DAC) infrastructure not yet built.
- Judicial Infrastructure
- Sessions judge not posted due to insufficient court infrastructure.
- Major Projects Announced
- Medical college, new bus stand, girls' degree college, Mahila thana, restoration of Mubarak Manzil Palace, District Administrative Complex.
- DAC Project Cost
- Rs 111 crore
- Muslim Population Percentage
- 68.5% (2011 Census)
Quotes
Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC)
““The main constraint has been land availability. Malerkotla, despite being an erstwhile princely state, has very limited government-owned land. Getting land transferred from various departments has taken time. But work will start soon,””
indianexpress.com
““It took 2.5 years to get the land transferred into the Revenue Department’s name. Map drawings have been sent to the Government of India for financial assistance.””
indianexpress.com
Shakuntala
a 76-year-old resident
““Aisa ganda shehar poore desh mein nahi hoga, har taraf gandgi, badboo (There might not be another such dirty town in the entire country. There is garbage and stench everywhere),””
indianexpress.com
““I have lived here all my life but nothing has changed. The roads are so bad that my back hurts even travelling small distances,” she adds, getting off a two-wheeler she had been riding pillion.”
indianexpress.com
Mohammad Shaheen
a 52-year-old resident
““It has been at least 15 years since this road was last repaired. People keep filling potholes with soil,””
indianexpress.com
““Allah jaane kaise sirf naam ka zila hai ye (God knows what kind of district this is).””
indianexpress.com
Viraj Shyamkarn Tidke
Deputy Commissioner
““Delays have happened, but processes take time. Land transfer for several major projects is now complete. Two legacy garbage dumps are being cleared. The new medical college and 150-bed ESI Hospital are on track.””
indianexpress.com
Gagan Ajit Singh
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)
““Land has been acquired for new Police Lines, which will include the district police chief residence.””
indianexpress.com
Jamil Ur Rahman
Malerkotla AAP MLA
““Some roads had not been repaired for 35 to 40 years. Tenders have now been floated. Womens’ college building will be handed over once boundary wall is completed. Land for the medical college and ESI hospital has been finalised. The DAC has received approval for Rs 111 crore.””
indianexpress.com
A senior district official
a senior district official
““Hum khud sochte hain logon ne humein ab tak sadak par karke peeta kyu nahi. Humein bhi development nahi dikh rahi. Zila politicians ne banaya, humne nahi. (We ourselves wonder why people haven’t dragged us out and beaten us yet. We also don’t see the development. The district was created for political reasons, not administrative ones.)””
indianexpress.com
