Residents of Chauhan Bangar are frequently forced
Shraddha Maheshwari
Chauhan Bangar near Brahmpuri was inundated for many hours last week. It was not because of rain but choked drains and non-functional sewer lines. Residents of the area were so angry and agitated this time that they staged a demonstration and shouted slogans against the authorities. Residents claim that knee-deep sewage water often collects and they have no alternative but to wade through it. Appeals to the MLA and councillor to solve the problem have not worked.
Students of a primary school in Lane number 10, which was flooded, had a tough time reaching school. Those who came on foot had to take a detour. Scooterists came to the rescue of some of them.
Many other helpless ones waded through water, dirtied their uniforms and got wet. The water entered residents’ houses and caused immense convenience. People waited desperately for sweepers and cleaners to unclog the drains.
Mohammed Naeim, a resident of the area, said: "Lane numbers 9 and 11 also face the same problem. There is a mosque in lane number 10 and whenever the lane is flooded, we have to wait for hours to offer prayers. The problem is becoming acute day by day. We have brought this to the notice of both MLA Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed and councillor Razia Sultan several times."
Vakil Ahmed, another resident of the area, says: "Sweepers never come to our colony and drains are never cleaned resulting in water collecting in the colony. The situation gets worse during the rainy season as the colony is at a low level. It becomes almost impossible for people to step out of their houses. With drains overflowing, a foul smell pervades and mosquitoes breed in abundance."
Yakub Kaptan, another resident of the colony, says: "Even roads are damaged and in such a situation, there are all chances of accidents." Pointing towards a place in the corner of the lane, he says: "A scooter mechanic sits here but as the colony is flooded, he could not work and thus lost his day’s livelihood."
The patience of the residents seems to have run out.
They are hoping that their demonstration, which was a manifestation of their anger and despair, will move the authorities to do something to solve the problem on a permanent basis and that too in the near future.
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