The main road near Old Pardi Naka Square is in a shambles since last few years. It witnesses heavy traffic flow of buses and trucks throughout the day. Suspended dust from the unpaved road has been playing havoc with the health of the residents. “Our houses are always covered with layers of dust. It becomes difficult to keep windows open,” said the residents.

Unsanitary conditions in the locality also pose a threat. Residents said that choked drains leave the area in mess, especially during monsoons. “The sewage line gets choked at least once a week. Despite many complaints, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) workers do not clear it on a regular basis. Recently, the lines were choked for almost two months till finally the workers came to clean it,” they said. Pointing out that the pipelines are very old, residents said that the problem won’t be solved until they are replaced.

Surya Nagar has three-four gardens but all are poorly maintained with no lighting and other facilities. The Trikoni Garden, which was fenced around four years back, has turned into a dump yard, piled up with garbage and trimmed branches and leaves. Overgrown weeds and plants cover the entire park which does not even have a walking or jogging track. “We recently contributed money to make a small cricket pitch for kids,” said a resident.

Another garden area near the office of Surya Nagar welfare society, which was supposed to be a Bal Udyan for kids, has not a single swing in good condition. “We fear sending our kids there as it has become a home for snakes and other insects,” the residents said. At the corners of gardens and parks, garbage and leaf litter is burned regularly, adding more to the pollution.

The area has also become accident-prone due to pathetic condition of internal roads. “One section of a road was concretized, but the rest of the area still has bad roads which have not been tarred since years and are covered with potholes. The frequency of road accidents has increased,” the residents said.

Corporator of the area, Jagat Sinha, said that a work order has been passed for Trikoni Garden. “A walking track, Yoga centre and playa rea for kids will soon be constructed. Work order has also been passed for tarring of roads,” he said. On the sewage problem, he said that NMC authorities are not solving the problem citing various excuses. “Pipelines near Gomti hotel, Gurudwara and Jain temple are broken but no efforts are taken to repair them,” he added.

CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE

* Main road near Old Pardi Naka Square in a bad shape. Dust trail of heavy vehicles affecting residents’ health

* Drains get choked once a week during monsoons. Complaints to NMC bear no fruit

* No public parks maintained well, Trikoni Garden has turned into a garbage dump

* Garbage and leaf litter is burned regularly, adding more to the pollution

* Roads have not been tarred since years and are covered with potholes

Our Take

Choked sewage is the biggest problem here. Many times, the sewer overflows and contaminated water accumulates on roads. In monsoons the entire locality turns into a breeding ground of mosquitoes and snakes.

BanduGomase, businessman

Since a couple of years, our lane does not have street lights. Miscreants take advantage of the dark. Our house was robbed three years back. Nothing is being done despite repeated complaints.

Lack of hygiene and sanitation are the main problems in our area. Sweepers do not come regularly and dispose the waste in the premises. The roads, which are full of potholes, have not been tarred since many years.

Hazarilal Agrawal, president of Surya Nagar Welfare Society