CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE MARS SUB CITY

Progress on paper, but stark problems in civic infrastructure remain as they are. Whether it’s a single-engine, double-engine, or triple-engine government, our daily urban lives remain a story of dysfunction. Despite political pretenses, manifestos and endless civic claims, Dwarka sub city is still in a mess. The breakdown is all around – roads are pot holed, garbage strewn, water logging in many areas and a general apathy towards civic problem is visible. Says Prof. M N Bhatia, a retired professor, “This is quite disturbing. The middle and upper middle classes always get a raw deal. Unfortunately, there is silence and they are mute spectators to the tragedies inflicted upon them, yet they remain loyal and law-abiding citizens, paying their taxes without fail. This class is taken for granted by all governments”.

This year, the monsoons have started early and with them, the same annual tale of civic collapse. With first showers, life in the metro was in disarray. Says Brig V K Bhasin, a retired army man, “It is almost paradoxical that while India can engineer cost-effective satellites into orbit with precision and efficiency, among various other accolades, yet it is impossible to build and sustain city roads that withstand a single rainy season. As an annual ritual, politicians will blame nature’s fury in their usual ‘floods and photo-op’ moments and direct city officials to ‘urgently’ fix things.” Rainfall, while providing some relief from the extreme heat, has been the cause of waterlogging, traffic disruptions in different parts of the sub city. This is just one such instance of civic facilities failing at crucial times. There are other instances which do not need any specific time of the year to occur. They are constant reminders of the bad management, poor maintenance and lack of concern of the authorities for the lives and convenience for the citizens.

Garbage Tests Patience of Residents -
Dwarka faces significant garbage woes, including rampant illegal dumping, overflowing bins and inadequate waste management, leading to environmental and health concerns. The lack of designated dumping zones and awareness about proper disposal exacerbates the problem, with garbage piling up in open spaces, causing stench, pest infestations and pollution. Garbage is already the major problem. Street corners are strewn with piles of trash, attracting flies, mosquitoes and rats. These make life even more difficult, especially for small children and elderly people. Garbage woes are not peculiar to certain pockets of Dwarka but have become a ubiquitous phenomenon. Several posh areas have also been grappling with poor sanitary conditions, thanks to improper waste management. This spells trouble for both local residents and commuters. Residents of the Sector 13 Metro view apartment and its vicinity are bearing the brunt of the authorities’ apathy. Local residents complain about the foul smell emanating from heaps of garbage lying in the open, clogged drains and mosquito infestations. The authorities’ claim that they are taking adequate steps to ensure cleanliness and sanitation in the area falls flat in the face of this perennial problem. Same is the case at Samriddhi Apartment Sector 18B. The housing society, once a clean and orderly residential hub, is now burdened with heaps of trash spilling over from bins and accumulating along the streets and corners. With the onset of pre-monsoon showers, the situation is raising serious health concerns. Informs Ms. Roshni, a resident, “We’ve been complaining for weeks, but no one seems to care,”  The scenario in Sector 13 in front of Vegas mall is no better. Complains Anil Madan, a long-time resident, adding, “The garbage isn’t picked up regularly, and stray animals often scatter it. The stench is unbearable, and children can’t play outside anymore.” With overflowing trash piles, clogged drains and unsanitary conditions, these neighborhoods have become hotspots for disease, pest infestation and environmental degradation. Residents, who often find themselves caught between empty political promises and the apathetic attitude of civic authorities, continue to endure these hardships year after year. There is garbage dumped in front of Adarsh Apartments, Sector-3. The area has become a big dump. The residents are very upset as this is the route for going to government school. Ranbir Singh Solanki has sent a memorandum to DC, MCD to shift the dump somewhere else. He says, “This issue of garbage lying in the open has persisted here for many years. I have requested the public not to dump garbage here. No action has been taken. This also raises health concerns, especially during the rainy season. The stench is just unbearable.”

Broken And Overflowing Sewerage-
One of the biggest issues facing the local residents is the broken sewage system. Open drains overflow with dirty water, creating a terrible smell that becomes worse during the hot summer months. “The smell is so bad that we can’t even shop properly outside,” says Ms. Vijaya, a 58-year-old homemaker. One of the most persistent issues in all markets including 4, 5, 11 and 12 and 6 is the overflowing sewage in its market area. The stench of overflowing sewage water fills the air, creating an unbearable environment for both residents and visitors. This situation not only affects the aesthetic value of the area but also poses serious health risks. The improper functioning of the sewage system leads to unhygienic conditions, attracting pests and potentially causing the spread of diseases. Immediate repairs and maintenance of the sewage lines are needed to address this issue.

Pot Holed Roads: A Challenge To Movement -
Sink holes have appeared across the city, so are large potholes that make the sub city seem the ideal venue to test out vehicles for the surface of Mars. While there are problems with construction on some roads, there are issues of water logging with others. Sometimes, accumulated water hides the danger of large potholes and craters. While there have been efforts to fix the potholes on a war footing, the intensity of rain keeps washing away the freshly laid parts of the road. Rain brought the city to a standstill. Images of buses and other vehicles submerged in water mixed with sewer and uncollected garbage was flashing across the media.
The cases of the roads in Front of Metro View Apartment and Sector 17 is a testimony of the apathy and carelessness of the authorities towards civic facilities and basic infrastructural upkeep and maintenance. Bad and broken roads are really a shocking sight and the condition is pathetic in many parts of the sub city. These are pot holed and it is difficult to walk and driving is a big risk. There are broken patches and the top of the roads has no bitumen and tarring remains. Construction material and malba is lying in the middle of the road. The road is full of gardening waste and dry leaves and branches. Says Pradeep Verma, an executive, “Roads are the key to movement and the lifeline of any place. But this importance is not at all realised and given importance by the authorities”. Former ACP Delhi Police Ram Singh informs, “There's a pothole at almost mid of the main carriageway near the red light point near Kaveri Apartments, Sector-6. Traffic police was alerted who in turn alerted PWD who passed the buck onto the DJB saying there was leakage from a DJB water pipe. Potholes are a traffic obstruction and a life risk for commuters on two wheelers.”
Not only main roads but the condition of the service lanes in front of several societies is deteriorating. The lanes, which are crucial for smooth traffic flow and pedestrian movement, are filled with potholes and cracks. These hazards not only make driving uncomfortable but also put residents at risk of accidents, particularly during rainy seasons when these potholes fill with water, making them difficult to spot. It is essential that these lanes are repaired to ensure the safety of commuters and pedestrians. Once considered to be the highlight and pride of Dwarka, the fast and smooth roads have, over the years become pot holed and dusty with little maintenance and proper repairs at regular intervals. This is not the first time that we have reported on the condition of roads in the sub city. Roads are virtually dotted with craters of all sizes and shapes. The authorities must take up the repairs and re-tarring of this stretch at the earliest.
Does Dwarka need a crisis for the authorities to wake up to its crumbling civic infrastructure, ask residents. Tall claims by government, civic agencies on cleaning and then closing open drains, monsoon action plan, their vow to never allow recurrence of the 2023 deluge, fell flat after only the first bout of torrential rains. India aspires to be a global economic powerhouse, but how can we achieve that when our cities remain dysfunctional? We host international summits and tout digital transformation, yet we cannot guarantee reliable urban infrastructure, clean air or a hassle-free commute. Our ambitions are grand, but our execution is embarrassingly inadequate. The problem is not a lack of money-it is a lack of accountability.

Open Man Holes And Drains – Inviting Accidents -
Along with garbage, open manholes and drains in the middle of busy roads have intensified the problem. With many drains choked by plastic wrappers and solid waste, water flows sluggishly or gets blocked entirely; creating puddles and damp patches that emit a foul smell and serve as mosquito breeding sites. This is a serious problem near the Metro View apartment. Amardeep Singh, a resident, shares that open drains are another key problem in the locality. He adds. “These open drains have been the cause of many serious accidents in the past. People have had serious accidents and even a person died as a result of falling in such an open drain. This is criminal. But no authority has cared to address this situation. I wonder what will wake the authorities out of their slumber.” Also, the open drains are an ideal place for mosquito breeding. Foul smell is also another issue for the local residents. During night hours, the women do not feel safe due to several dark spots. In addition, overflowing drains and choked sewers contribute to unsanitary conditions, particularly during the monsoon season. This is becoming serious as is the case in Sector 18B in Front of Bodoland Bhavan. Dr. D Dasgupta puts it succinctly, “The country cannot imagine that overflowing drains, heaps of garbage and streets filled with stinking sewer water still exist in the Capital.”