The Haryawal Manch has called for coordinated action by the district administration, elected representatives, civic authorities and residents to address Amritsar’s growing civic challenges, proposing a six-month citywide campaign focused on cleanliness, traffic management, parking, greenery and removal of encroachments.
At a meeting in Amritsar, members of the organisation said civic problems should be addressed through coordinated action involving government agencies and citizens rather than being limited to discussions or complaints. The group proposed a common framework under which problems would be identified, prioritised and assigned for time-bound action.
Focus on Cleanliness and Civic Infrastructure
Haryawal Manch president Daljit Singh Kohli highlighted the large number of visitors arriving in Amritsar every day because of prominent religious destinations, including Harmandar Sahib, Durgiana Temple and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath.
According to Kohli, the scale of visitor movement makes maintaining the city’s cleanliness, roads and public infrastructure a shared responsibility of residents, civic authorities and other stakeholders.
He raised concerns over garbage accumulation, pollution, traffic congestion, parking shortages and encroachments on footpaths, saying these issues affect both residents and visitors.
Kohli also raised concerns about the use of basements in large buildings, malls and hospitals for commercial activities instead of parking. He said this could contribute to vehicles being parked on roads, after which motorists may face police towing action.
Call for Government Agencies to Work Together
The organisation urged the Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, police administration, technical departments and elected representatives to coordinate their efforts instead of dealing with individual civic problems in isolation.
The objective, according to the group, is to improve cleanliness, ease traffic congestion and create a more organised urban environment across Amritsar.
Members also stressed that citizens should participate in solving civic problems rather than only raising complaints about them.
Kohli said residents who are concerned about the city’s future should contribute practical efforts toward improving public spaces and the overall quality of life.
Ground-Level Action Proposed
Haryawal Manch member Harvinder Singh Virk pointed to illegal encroachments on footpaths, permanent shop structures and garbage dumps as issues affecting the city’s appearance and public spaces.
He called on administrative officials to spend more time addressing civic issues at the ground level and interacting directly with residents rather than relying only on office-based assessments.
The group believes that direct monitoring and coordination could help identify local problems more quickly and improve the implementation of corrective measures.
Volunteer Teams to Be Created Across the City
The meeting resulted in a decision to establish volunteer teams in different parts of Amritsar.
These teams will focus on several areas, including:
- Cleanliness and waste management
- Increasing greenery and tree plantation
- Traffic management
- Parking-related issues
- Public awareness
- Anti-drug campaigns
The volunteers are expected to work alongside relevant government departments and help identify problems requiring administrative intervention.
A common framework will also be developed to categorise civic issues, determine priorities and pursue time-bound solutions with the concerned authorities.
Monthly Reviews Planned
The organisation has proposed monthly reviews throughout the six-month period to assess progress on the identified issues.
The reviews will examine developments related to cleanliness, removal of encroachments, parking facilities, tree plantation and public-awareness activities.
The intention is to ensure that the proposed campaign remains focused on measurable action rather than becoming another short-term civic initiative.
Six-Month Period Seen as Important
Another member, Jaspal Singh, described the coming six months as an important period and called on different stakeholders to work together on the ground.
The organisation’s approach is centred on bringing government agencies, elected representatives, community groups and residents into a common framework for addressing civic concerns.
Rather than treating cleanliness, traffic, parking and environmental issues separately, the proposed campaign seeks to address them through coordinated local action.
The initiative comes as Amritsar continues to manage the challenges associated with its large resident population as well as substantial daily visitor movement linked to its religious and cultural importance.
The Haryawal Manch’s proposed six-month programme will now focus on building volunteer teams, identifying priority civic problems and establishing a monthly review mechanism to track progress.
Disclaimer: This report has been editorially prepared using publicly available information and official statements. Readers are advised to refer to official announcements for further details.
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