Jawalamukhi: Jawalamukhi MLA Sanjay Rattan on Sunday inaugurated the newly developed **Shiv Vatika** in Jawalamukhi and dedicated the public park to residents, calling it an important step towards creating more open and recreational spaces in the town. He congratulated the Municipal Council and local residents for completing the project.
Rattan said Jawalamukhi had been facing a shortage of open spaces for years. During his earlier tenure as MLA from 2012 to 2017, funds had been provided for developing a park, but the project could not take shape because suitable land was not available. He said the previous municipal committee subsequently identified land and initiated the park project, while the present committee completed the work. He also acknowledged the role of former Municipal Council Vice-President Siddh Goswami in the process.
### Parks to be developed in all nine wards
The MLA said efforts were being made to identify available open spaces in all nine wards of the Municipal Council area and develop small parks wherever possible. He said such spaces would provide children with places to play, offer senior citizens a place to spend time and create opportunities for residents to interact with one another.
Rattan also linked the development of parks with the need to provide children and young people with healthy alternatives to excessive mobile-phone use and other social problems, including drug abuse.
He said additional parks were also being planned or developed at different locations, including areas near the cremation ground and other wards of the town.
### ₹400-crore development projects
Highlighting his broader vision for Jawalamukhi, Rattan said a number of major development projects were being taken up with the aim of transforming the town into a cleaner, more beautiful and modern urban centre.
According to the MLA, projects worth around **₹400 crore** had been sanctioned for the area, with the first instalment of around **₹35 crore** having been received. He mentioned plans for a modern bus stand, multistorey parking facility, separate bus, taxi and auto stands, a mall, vegetable market, guest house and picture hall.
### Temple area to get major facelift
Rattan said a master plan for the Jawalamukhi temple area had been prepared by **NIT Hamirpur**. He said land around the temple was being acquired and developed and that landscaping, parks and other facilities would be created as part of the plan.
He also mentioned plans for electric vehicles to facilitate the movement of devotees towards the Bhairav temple.
### Chandigarh-style road development proposed
The MLA said a major road improvement plan was also being pursued, including a proposed divided road connecting the bypass areas and extending beyond Amb College. He said the road was envisioned on the lines of Chandigarh's roads, with lighting and facilities for pedestrians.
### Appeals to residents to maintain cleanliness
Rattan appealed to residents to take responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness of public parks and other civic facilities. He urged people to cooperate with the Municipal Council and ensure that newly developed public spaces remained clean and well maintained.
### 100-bed hospital among key projects
Referring to healthcare infrastructure, Rattan said work on a **100-bed hospital** was progressing and put its cost at around ₹17 crore. He expressed the expectation that the facility would be inaugurated during the Navratras and provide improved healthcare services to residents of the area.
### 24-hour water supply target
On the issue of drinking water, the MLA said some wards were currently receiving water twice a day, while certain areas of wards 6, 7, 8 and 9 continued to face difficulties.
He said the target was to ensure **24-hour water supply across the entire Municipal Council area within three to four months**.
### Merger of wards 8 and 9 with MC
Rattan also addressed concerns surrounding the merger of wards 8 and 9 from the panchayat area into the Municipal Council. He said the move had been made to provide residents with better urban facilities, including sewerage, roads and street lighting, rather than to cause inconvenience to them.
He further stated that residents would not face additional taxes for three years and that existing house, water and electricity-related rates would remain at the same level as applicable in the panchayat area, as stated by him.
### No discrimination among wards, says Rattan
Rattan said development would not be based on caste, region, personal connections or political affiliation. He maintained that all nine wards were equally important and that his objective was to develop Jawalamukhi as a clean, attractive and well-planned town.
He said the ultimate aim was to ensure that visitors coming to the religious town carried back a positive impression of Jawalamukhi.
Rattan said residents and visitors had already noticed changes in Jawalamukhi in recent years and expressed confidence that the town would witness further transformation over the next two years. He said his vision was to develop Jawalamukhi on the lines of a modern and well-planned city such as Chandigarh.
The MLA concluded his address with **“Jai Hind, Jai Bharat and Jai Himachal.”**