Good step to some extent: Visibly confused Poonch district administration imposes ban on sale of fuel to two-wheeler riders

Good step to some extent: Visibly confused Poonch district administration imposes ban on sale of fuel to two-wheeler riders

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH: The people of the Poonch district didn’t witness any major developmental activities during the past some time, but still, the administration tried its best to project every minor activity as a major one to hoodwink the government and the public that the officers at the top level are very much active on the ground in addressing the public issues. If one analyzes each and  every press release  of the administration issued during the last six months, one can come to the conclusion that more than 85% of claims of administration in those press releases on various issues are not visible on the ground. Although, in another act, which is considered a good step to some extent, the district administration has imposed a ban on the sale of fuel to two-wheeler riders.

While the public views this as a positive step, the administration has not adequately addressed other significant issues related to traffic congestion and accidents. The administration never took action on rash driving of tractors in the city, which has become a big nuisance. Many elderly people, while talking to “POONCH TODAY,” said that they fear for their lives from the rash driving of tractors while walking on the main roads of the city. In the recent order no. DMP/JC/8160-64 dated 18-04-2025 issued under the seal and signature of DC Poonch, the administration from point no. 1 to point no. 5 laid emphasis on the importance of CCTV cameras in the petrol pump premises to check any violations, but the same administration never pressed for the same to check illegal encroachments of market space and illegal parking at different places in the city. The administrative zeal that the administration is trying to show in the said order was never witnessed by the people of the city during the last few months in issues of public interest like illegal parking and encroachments at different places in Poonch city, even in front of the Tehsildar office. In the order, the administration directed the tehsildars to implement the order within their jurisdiction when the fact of the matter is that tehsildars have also failed brazenly to take action against illegal parking and illegal encroachments of market space openly in different markets, which has become a huge public concern in the district. The ground presence of the administration is extremely poor, but only on social media and print media is the administration active. On the one hand, the order is good as it will force the bikers to follow the traffic rules, but on the other hand, the same bikers, after getting fuel, will remove the helmets. Who will check those violations? Has the administration ever checked the quality of fuel given by the petrol pump owners? The answer is no. The administration seems to be in a confused state of mind, as it never showed its mettle on the ground on various issues of public importance and making strong developmental plans for the future, as it just believes in shooting in the air.