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| Shahabad Colony: Filth, stench rules roost as drainage still distant dream | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 4: It was another hectic day for Editor, Early Times, Munish Gupta as his mass contact programme today reached Shahabad Colony, Bahu Fort in Gandhi Nagar Assembly Constituency where he again come across with the familiar problems of unplanned development, poor sanitation and improper sewage besides erratic water and power supply.
While interacting with the residents of Shahabad Colony, Munish Gupta came to know that the area is still deprived of the basic amenities like proper sewage system and blacktopped/ tiled lanes
"The drains of our locality can easily be called as gutters as they are choked with all sorts of filth. The blocked drains are breeding ground for worms and insects like flies and mosquitoes who hover around in our houses due to which an epidemic could break anytime in the area," a large number of residents told Munish.
"Majority of the water supply pipes in the area were laid in such a way that they pass through the drains due to which the garbage filled water from drains gets mixed with the supply pipes through leakages," they added.
The blocked drains in the area have left the sewage overflowing into lanes while seepage from external drains enters into several houses in the area.
"The houses smell. It stinks. You can't breathe as sewage gushes from drains, pooling on lanes and by-lanes and sometimes into houses. While sanitation is a big problem, the erratic power and water supply are another sources of nuisance for the residents," said Vinod Kumar of Shahabad while narrating his tale of woes to Munish Gupta.
Manzoor Ahmad, Mohd Riyaz, Kuldeep Kumar, Pinky and Atul lodged complained about dilapidated lanes which according to them are in terrible condition for the last several years besides they also highlighted the irregular power and water supply.
While S S Sharma and Geeta Abrol raised the issues of poor state of water supply and the shabby condition of lanes in the area.
"Water supply is not only irregular but it is also inadequate. Water to the area is being supplied after a gap of three-four days and that too for a very short duration. The water sourced from Boria Station was meant for our locality but mysteriously it got diverted to Bhatindi area due to which the problem of water scarcity still persists here," said S S Sharma.
Several residents of the area including Anshita, Mamta Shakotra, Raju Sagotra, Deep Kumar, Tabassum, Shahida Begum, Surekha, S P Sabharwal and Sabita highlighted the problem of poor drainage system in the entire Shahabad Colony while they also rued the unhygienic conditions of in which the inhabitants are living.
"Drains in the area had not been upgraded even as a large number of homes were built over the years.
The drains in most of the area are choked due to which the filthy water gets overflowed all around," said Anshita.
While Surekha minced no words in castigating the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan said that the state as well as the Union government is busy in making tall claims of cleanliness but the poor sanitation in our locality is indeed a reality check for all such notions.
"The government has no concern for the colonies like ours. It bothers only for the affluent class. We have been made to live in hell like situation. The foul smell emanating from drains is unbearable but nothing is being done by the authorities. We are now used to live along such inhuman conditions", said Surekha adding that to get rid of the menace of stink we covered the drains by laying slabs over them after incurring money on our own.
Usha and Ashok Kumar raised the issue of a nearby pond which according to them is a major source of annoyance for them it wreaks havoc in monsoon.
"The pond should be filled as it exudes unbearable stench and had become highly polluted as well as contaminated. The water body is badly neglected over the years as few nallahs of the area flow into it. Moreover, in rainy season it gets overflowed due to which the dirty water enters into houses," said Usha.
Bholi Devi, Taro Devi, Geeta Devi and Babli Devi are those unfortunate old age women living in the area who are facing official neglect and apathy to avail benefits of the various welfare schemes on one pretext or the other even as they are entitled for the same.
While Bholi Devi and Babli Devi are making strenuous efforts to get the financial aid sanctioned in their favour to construct and renovate their houses, the other elderly women, Taro and Geeta Devi are endlessly waiting for their names to be enrolled for the monthly pension.
"We filled requisite forms for the respective welfare schemes on several occasions but our names did not figure in the list of beneficiaries till date," said disenchanted Bholi Devi, Taro and Geeta Devi. |
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