Gurgaon: As authorities pass the buck, Sector 22 residents fix potholes on their own

Sector 22 was transferred by the Huda to the MCG two years ago for ensuring civic maintenance

Fed up with the authorities for their alleged indifference to their woes, residents of Sector 22 took the responsibility of fixing potholes on their internal roads ahead of Diwali. They conducted an internal road survey that pointed to 25 gaping potholes posing a grave danger to commuters. They then pooled funds and hired labourers to run urgent repair.

Sector 22 residents hired labourers to fill the potholes on internal roads with construction rubble. (HT PHOTO)

Sector 22, as well as several other sectors, were transferred to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) for the purpose of ensuring proper civic maintenance two years ago. The transfer happened at the behest of the Haryana urban development authority (Huda). However, the move made little difference on the ground, as the state of roads and sewer lines grew progressively worse and potable water was in short supply. Residents said they did the rounds of the authorities seeking urgent action, but little came of it.

Residents said both the Huda and the MCG passed the buck and blamed each other when approached for road repairs and boosting water supply.

Bhim Singh Yadav, president, residents’ welfare association (RWA), Sector 22, said, “The onus of ensuring civic maintenance is on the MCG , but they shirked responsibility. We left no stone unturned over the last six months to get our internal roads, but our effort came to nought. MCG men dug up three-four roads for laying water lines, but left the job midway, thereby putting residents and commuters at risk of mishaps in the event of rain. With the monsoon now on its way out, we requested the MCG to fix the potholes. But they continued to drag their feet, forcing us to take the onus on ourselves. We hired labourers who filled the potholes with construction rubble.”

“It is us and not the civic officials who have to deal with these civic woes on a day-to-day basis. While MCG repaired roads in many sectors, but the ones in our sector and the adjoining Sector 21 surprisingly remained untouched. We have since filled all potholes that posed a risk to commuters,” Mahesh Kumar, a resident, said.

Read I Work starts on choked sewage line in Gurgaon’s Sector 22

RWA members of Sector 21 have appreciated the effort and are considering a similar move to fix the potholes.

“I think we are left with no other choice other than this. I hope our effort will prompt the civic officials to sit up and take notice,” SN Yadav, a resident of Sector 21, said.

MR Sharma, chief engineer, MCG, said, “I will seek reports from the engineers concerned on the road repair schedule.”