Jodhpur: Around 200 residents of Pal, Chokha, Gangana, and Boranada localities in Jodhpur face police action after staging a protest at the Jodhpur Development Authority (JDA) office over poor civic amenities. The demonstration, held Thursday after residents marched over 10 km to the JDA headquarters, was aimed at highlighting problems of broken roads, sewage, drainage, water supply, and streetlights.On Saturday, the JDA administration lodged a report at Ratanada police station against the demonstrators, stating they held a protest without permission. The case, based on a complaint by Sunita, tehsildar of JDA Zone 3, has been registered under sections 189(2) (Unlawful assembly) and 223(A) (Disobedience to lawfully promulgated order by public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The protest was led by social organisation Chetna Yuva Mandal. Residents alleged that despite contributing crores of rupees in revenue to the JDA, their areas were left neglected while funds were diverted to upscale colonies. “Nothing has been done in these areas, which gave huge revenue to JDA. Today we have stinking sewage water, broken roads, no streetlights, and water shortage,” said local leader Virendra Pratap Singh, adding that repeated complaints had gone unheard. During the protest, JDA officials including the deputy commissioner and secretary met the delegation, accepted their memorandum, and assured redressal of grievances within a month. However, the subsequent move to prosecute the demonstrators has drawn criticism. This is not the first time public anger has erupted in Jodhpur over civic issues. The city has been reeling under poor infrastructure, which worsened during recent rains. Residents have repeatedly protested against the JDA, the municipal corporation, and the PWD, but with little relief. Deputy chief minister and PWD minister Diya Kumari also expressed dissatisfaction last week when she visited Jodhpur and pulled up officials over the poor condition of roads, asking, “What was the PWD doing?” Soon after, PWD executive engineer (City) Rohti Choudhary was removed, though residents say their problems remain unresolved. Despite the civic discontent, authorities have been accused of prioritising cosmetic beautification for high-profile visits, such as Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s Independence Day programme, while ignoring long-pending grievances of ordinary citizens.
