The Ambala Municipal Corporation, which claims to offer residents better facilities for social and family functions at low cost, now finds itself in the dock. The community centres built at a cost of lakhs of rupees in the name of public convenience are today weeping over their own decay for want of upkeep. The starkest example is the community centre in Ward No. 18 of Sector-9, where broken windows, peeling plaster and filth spread all around are raising serious questions about the way the corporation works.
The irony is that the very centres set up to give ordinary people affordable and superior facilities are now the places people hesitate to hold their functions. Local residents say that the corporation collects the full prescribed fee for weddings, ceremonies and other events, yet all people get in the name of facilities is disappointment. As a result, many families are forced to fall back on private banquet halls and other venues, which sharply pushes up their expenses.
Broken Glass and Cobwebs Inside, Construction Material Strewn Outside
The moment one steps inside the centre, the picture of disorder becomes plain. The plaster on several walls of the building has peeled off, and the filth has left the premises in a terrible state. The glass of many windows lies shattered, while cobwebs have taken over the ceilings and corners. The courtyard outside is no different; the interlocking tiles have come loose and construction material, sand and gravel lie scattered about. This has not only marred the beauty of the centre but also left visitors facing considerable inconvenience.
In such a situation, the obvious question is whether this state of affairs has arisen because municipal officials fail to carry out timely inspections and maintenance. Had there been regular care, the building would not be in this sorry condition today. Similar problems are surfacing at other community centres in the city as well, making it clear that this is not the trouble of a single centre but a failing of the entire system.
Councillor Hitesh Jain Admits: The Situation Is Not Satisfactory
When Ward-18 councillor Hitesh Jain was spoken to about the matter, he too acknowledged that the condition of the community centre is not satisfactory. He said that a few days ago road construction work was under way near the centre, and it was during this time that local residents informed him about the poor state of the building. He noted that the government gets such centres built to provide facilities to people, but negligence in maintenance is defeating their very purpose.
The councillor gave an assurance that renovation and repair work on the community centre would be started soon, and that he would also discuss the matter with former minister Aseem Goyal so that the necessary resources could be arranged. The biggest question now is this: when the corporation is collecting the full fee from people, why is the standard of facilities not in keeping with it? For now, city residents are hoping that the administration will not stop at mere assurances but will take ground-level action at the earliest to restore the community centres to their true usefulness and dignity.
