Drains clogged, Preet Vihar residents in deep waters

Preet Vihar, Nirman Vihar, Madhuban and Bharti Artists’ Colony can best be described as the plush colonies of the trans-Yamuna area.

Preet Vihar, Nirman Vihar, Madhuban and Bharti Artists’ Colony can best be described as the plush colonies of the trans-Yamuna area.

HT Image

The once tony, leafy areas, however, have transformed into commercial hubs. These colonies form a part of the Preet Vihar ward (number 228), along with several others on both sides of Vikas Marg.

When Nirmal Shah, a businessman, came to Preet Vihar, he was looking forward to a peaceful life. Thirty years later, he is disappointed with the pathetic sewage disposal and poorly maintained parks. The road condition and garbage disposal is just okay. "But a major problem is that the colony’s storm water drains have no outfall," he said.

Ditto for Nirman Vihar. “At times, after heavy rains, ankle deep water accumulates for 15 days at a stretch,” said AN Kapur, president of the residents’ society.

“A major problem is our colony’s internal roads that turned into a thoroughfare since the Nirman Vihar metro station became operational. They are no longer the quiet colony roads,” said Gurbachan Singh, secretary.

The Bharti Artists Colony has also grown exponentially. “But then, garbage disposal is better now. Roads are good while storm water drains and parks are maintained too,” Shekhar Chand Jain, a resident of the colony since 1983, said.

The case of Madhuban, a small colony, is different with a mix of civic issues and self-created problems. The colony has a daily needs market, good roads, satisfactory garbage removal and fairly good condition of parks. “(But) people have built ramps in front of their houses covering the drains. Cleaning them then becomes a problem,” said OP Rai, a resident.

Ravi Parkash Sharma, ward councillor, said, “I have already taken care of Nirman Vihar by constructing a culvert; estimates are ready for similar work for Madhuban,” he said.