Manko (Jalandhar), November 8
Perturbed over the alleged failure of the government to provide them with a motorable road, panchayats and residents of about 10 villages, NRIs and Sant Malkit Singh, also known as ‘Bridge
Baba’ in the area, joined hands to resolve the matter. The result of their efforts was a stretch of 7-km of a well-built road and that too within a short period of about two months.
The road was inaugurated today by Mr Balwinder Singh Minhas, Secretary, Ministry of Industries, in presence of Sant Malkit Singh and hundreds of residents of the area.
After suffering from the government apathy for years, the residents of the area urged Baba Malkit Singh, known for constructing roads and bridges in area, to undertake construction of the road. The baba immediately agreed to the proposal after discussing it with another Sant Baba Satpal Singh. Soon a large number of his followers, including NRIs and panchayats, started making financial contributions, which resulted in completion of construction of the about 18-foot-wide road, linking about 10 villages with each other, within a record period of two months.
“As usual the baba motivated people and all panchayats, people and NRIs came forward and made financial and other contributions,” said Dr H.S. Sagar, Director of the Sant Baba Bhag Singh Institute of Engineering and Technology, being run by Baba Malkit Singh in this village.
With the formal opening of this newly constructed road today, woes of a large number of residents of Ghudial, Manko, Deantpur, Daroli Khurd, Daroll Kalan, Padhiana, Chukhiara and Khiala, would end as now their villages had been directly linked with Adda Kathar township on the main Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road. “Now commuting between these villages and Adda Kathar would be much easier,” said Raj Kumar, a resident of the area.
Addressing the gathering at the village gurdwara, Baba Malkit Singh said the road was an outcome of joint efforts of people of the area.
Among others who attended the function included a former Punjab Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Mr Anoop Singh Minhas, Secretary-General of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Mr Sarbjit Singh Makkar, former Jalandhar Improvement Trust Chairman.
