JAMMU, Jun 22 : In a development that raises serious questions about urban infrastructure and administrative accountability, residents of Banyan Enclave, a 12-year-old residential colony situated barely four kilometers from Jammu city, have once again appealed to the authorities for immediate intervention to provide basic civic amenities that have remained pending for more than a decade.
The colony is home to several distinguished citizens, including serving and retired Army officers, among them two Colonels, a Lieutenant Colonel, a Captain, a retired KAS officer, a retired Director of the Education Department, and numerous other families. Yet despite their repeated representations over the years, the colony continues to remain without a properly paved approach road and an effective drainage system.
Residents describe the situation as both alarming and disappointing, particularly in light of the colony’s proximity to the city and the stature of many of its inhabitants who have dedicated their lives to the service of the nation. Among the prominent residents is Colonel R.K. Sharma (Retd.), a highly decorated war veteran and recipient of the Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, and Sena Medal. His residence frequently attracts school students, NCC cadets, aspiring youth, and young Army officers who visit to seek guidance, motivation, and inspiration from his distinguished military career and service to the nation.
However, visitors to the colony are confronted with a starkly different reality. The 500-meter approach road leading to Banyan Enclave remains unpaved and is strewn with stones, dust, and mud. In the absence of proper road construction, illegal encroachments have reportedly mushroomed along the route, with unauthorized ramps, structures, and walls occupying portions of the public pathway. The situation becomes particularly severe during the monsoon season when the entire stretch reportedly gets submerged under knee-deep water, making movement difficult and sometimes hazardous for residents, children, women, and senior citizens.
Residents say that almost every visitor who witnesses the condition of the colony asks the same troubling question: “Is this how the nation treats its citizens and its war heroes? “What has further deepened the frustration of the residents is the fact that the issue has remained unresolved despite repeated appeals to various authorities over the last ten years.
According to residents, Colonel R.K. Sharma personally met several senior officials and public representatives over the years, including former Advisors to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri K. Vijay Kumar and Shri Farooq Khan, IPS, besides approaching the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation, the MLA Jammu South, officials of the PWD (R&B) Department, and even the present Deputy Chief Minister. Despite these efforts, the long-awaited road and drainage project has yet to see meaningful progress on the ground.
Expressing his anguish over the prolonged delay, Colonel R.K. Sharma (Retd.) said that the entire colony has been waiting for basic infrastructure for the past ten years. “During rains, our children face immense difficulties in reaching their schools. Senior citizens often remain confined to their homes. Young people who come here seeking patriotic inspiration from veterans leave disappointed after witnessing the neglected condition of the colony,” he said.
Recalling his decades of service to the nation, the decorated veteran stated that he served in the Army for 38 years, fought in the Kargil War, and participated in operations in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the North-East. He said that despite suffering injuries from bullets and grenade attacks during service, he continued to perform his duties with courage and determination. “Many Army officers and civil officers residing in this colony have served the nation selflessly. Is it too much to expect a paved road and a proper drainage system after dedicating our lives to the country?” he asked.
Colonel Sharma further remarked that while the nation expects soldiers to make the highest sacrifices, including risking their lives and staying away from their families, the administrative system has failed to provide even the most basic civic facilities to those who served. “Children live here, women live here, elderly citizens live here. Can their destiny in 2026 still be mud-filled roads, stagnant water, and the threat of disease?” he questioned.
Residents highlighted that the lack of infrastructure is affecting every aspect of daily life. Children face difficulties in attending schools during adverse weather. The absence of proper drainage creates unhealthy conditions and increases the risk of waterborne diseases. The poor condition of the road also poses serious concerns regarding emergency services, as ambulances and fire tenders may find it difficult to access the colony during critical situations.
The residents have collectively demanded immediate intervention by the administration and urged authorities to approve and commence road and drainage construction work within seven days. They have also sought coordinated action by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Public Works Department (PWD), and Revenue Department to remove all illegal encroachments, ramps, and unauthorized structures obstructing the public road.
In addition, residents have called for accountability to be fixed for the decade-long delay in providing essential civic amenities, urging the government to identify and act against officials responsible for administrative inaction. The residents have further proposed a policy initiative whereby residential areas inhabited by martyrs’ families, Veer Naris, gallantry award winners, and decorated servicemen be recognized as “National Inspiration Sites” and provided civic infrastructure and public services on priority.
Summing up the collective sentiment of the colony, residents stated that if a residential area located merely four kilometers from Jammu city continues to battle mud, waterlogging, encroachments, and neglect in 2026, it raises serious concerns about the pace and effectiveness of development at the grassroots level.
The residents have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s Administration, the Jammu and Kashmir Government, the deputy Chief minister, the Jammu Municipal Corporation, the Jammu Development Authority, and all concerned departments to treat the issue as a matter of urgency and ensure that long-pending road and drainage works are initiated without any further delay.