Better living conditions lead to voters migration

Amritsar, Jan 7 (UNI) Migration of families from the congested localities of the old walled city has led to a decline in the number of voters in the prestigious Amritsar Central constituency, which is represented by the Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Darbari Lal.

According to the latest figures released by the district election office here, this constituency now has 86,735 voters, a fall of 18,387 voters from the last elections, held in 2002.In the 1997 polls, 3000 additional voters were added to the list as a number of families that had left their homes in the walled city due to terrorism returned.

A visit to the localities in the constituency revealed that a number of families who had money shifted to posh localities or enclaves in the Civil Lines area or to the new housing complex along National Highway-I. The families migrated to outer city as the living conditions were are far better than the congested walled city.

The lack of parking space is another reason for the shift of residents from the walled city, comprising of areas like Katra Jaimal Singh, Hall Bazaar, Atta Mandi, Ghee Mandi and Paprawala Bazaar. All these localities fall in the vicinity of the Golden Temple.

Another reason for the migration has been the break-up of joint families. The aged parents or relatives still continue to live in their multi-storey old houses in the lanes and bye-lanes of the walled city, but the younger generation has opted to shift to posh Mall Road or Ranjit Avenue areas.

A number of well known jewellers who ran their business from the famous Guru Bazaar, close to the Golden Temple have opened their second shop either on the busy Lawrence Road or in one of the newly constructed malls. Likewise a few well known stores selling ready made garments too have shifted part of their business to the Mall Road.

The railways have demolished a large portion of the old Railway Colony and rehabilitated the affected families in other colonies which are part of Amritsar West segment.

The shift in population has led to a rise in the number of voters in the Amritsar Central, Amritsar South and Amritsar West constituencies. In the Amritsar West constituency 20,000 new voters have been added to the list, while in Amritsar North 35,000 new voters figure in the latest list.

A majority of those who left the walled city have settled in areas of Amritsar North while a few have opted for Amritsar West or Amritsar South. Likewise there has also been a rise in the number of voters in the Jandiala (reserve) and Verka (reserve) segments which border the city.

A number of new housing colonies have come up along the Amritsar byepass which falls in Verka constiuency, where the number of voters have gone up by 21,704 from the 2002 list. Similarly in Jandiala the numer of new voters is around 21,660, as people from the city and nearby villages have opted to settle down in the enclaves along NH-I.

UNI