Sector Scan: It’s a daily struggle for Sector 15 dwellers in Vasundhara

SECTOR SCAN: Residents started moving to the area in 1995; locality handed over to municipal corporation in 2000.

It’s a daily struggle for residents of sector 15, Vasundhara, who have been struggling for more than two decades to get basic civic amenities in their locality. Roads filled with potholes and encroachments and garbage dumped in front of the locality’s main gate have left them angry and helpless.

A total of 130 Higher Income Group flats and 1200 Lower Income Group flats were constructed in the locality by the Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Board in 1994. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

A total of 130 Higher Income Group (HIG) flats and 1200 Lower Income Group (LIG) flats were constructed in the locality by the Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Board in 1994. By 1995, residents started inhabiting the area and by 2000, it was handed over to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC).

With a population of approximately 5,500 residents, the locality does not have any government office, apart from the Ration Card office of the Food and Civil Supplies Department. The locality has a private commercial complex, one of the biggest in Vasundhara.

Roads filled with pot holes

The service lanes and the main roads of the sector are filled with potholes, residents said. Complaints to the corporation have gone in vain, they added.

The service lane roads as well as the main roads of the sector 15, Vasundhara are filled with potholes. (Sakib Ali/ HT Photo)

“The roads are covered with potholes. Moreover, monsoon has played havoc because the potholes get filled with water and it is difficult to even walk on the road, let alone drive,” said Avlok Aggarwal, resident of sector 15, Vasundhara.

However, officials said patch work on the roads will start after the monsoon.

“Funds have been allocated to the local municipal councillors for patch work in the roads. We are just waiting for monsoon to get over after which the roads will be repaired,” said DK Sinha, additional municipal commissioner.

Poor Sanitation

One of the biggest issues with the residents of sector 15 is the open dumping of garbage on roads and overflowing garbage from garbage bins. According to them, repeated requests to the corporation to send their sanitation workers have not yielded any results.

One of the biggest issues with the residents of sector 15 is the open dumping of garbage on roads and overflowing garbage from garbage bins. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

“While we have employed private garbage collectors in our colony, there is no place to dump this garbage. Garbage is only lifted from our locality only twice a week,” said Vipin Ghatnana, sector 15 residents’ welfare association member.

Officials said the problem arises due to a shortage of municipal workers.

“Since we have shortage of workers, it is difficult to pick up garbage from each sector every day. We will get the problem resolves as soon as possible,” said Dr RK Yadav, district health officer.

Encroachments

Residents complain that rampant encroachments on the main road of the sector has led to traffic jams and garbage being dumped on the roads. Vendors of fruits, vegetables and mattresses have set up shops across the Maharaja Agrasain Road that runs through sector 15, Vasundhara.

Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation officials said encroachment drives are being scheduled to remove such vendors. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

“These encroachments have only cropped up two years back and since then have refused to go back. Residents then park their cars in front of these vendors which in turn leads to traffic jams,” said Ajay Nigam, member of sector 15 RWA, Vasundhara.

Officials said encroachment drives are being scheduled to remove such vendors.

“Though we did conduct an anti-encroachment drive in May this year, we are scheduling another one which will be held next month. These encroachments will be removed then,” said Sinha, additional municipal commissioner.