Negligence on the part the DDA and the SDMC has made Sector 7 one of the most shabby localities of Dwarka.
Garbage spill overs, waterlogging, encroachment, badly maintained parks, damaged roads and open manholes are a common sight across the co-operative group housing societies, schools, DDA pockets and markets of Sector 7. Residents, RWAs and managements of housing societies have been consistently raising their voice against these civic issues. However, the municipal corporation and the DDA have not addressed their concerns with the right amount of attention.
A social worker and resident of Sri Agrasen Apartments, AK Parashar, has been sharing photographs depicting the appalling level of civic infrastructure with the media and other social networks in the hope of drawing the attention of the authorities. Today Parashar is a disillusioned man. “To what extent can one persist while highlighting the issues? The municipal corporation and the DDA have both displayed a casual approach. The problem of garbage in the vacant land behind Maxfort School is still unresolved. The heap of garbage near Shiksha Bharti School is only getting bigger with time. The roads are full of potholes and waterlogging is a common phenomenon after rains. We can only raise our voice and follow up with the authorities. But ultimately they have to implement solutions,” he rues.
Parashar has also formed a WhatsApp group called ‘Mission Safe and Clean Dwarka’ in which he has also added the representatives of the civic authorities. “Sector 7 is the most neglected sector in Dwarka despite the fact that it falls in the Palam ward. The issues that we are highlighting are related to the SDMC. I have also brought them under the notice of the area councillor. However, nothing has been done,” he adds.
The sector is also contending with security issues. There are dark unlit stretches and often hooligans create a nuisance there. A resident of Shruti Apartments and a member of Sector 7 RWA, Anurag Bahl, said, “The wine and beer shops owned by DSIDC in Vardhman Mall are the root cause of many issues. Firstly, the vendors have encroached the surrounding land. Underage people drink in and around these shops and attribute to the traffic jams. The police and the SDMC officials and elected politicians are all aware of the situation especially because the RWAs and residents have lodged numerous complaints. However, nobody wants to remedy the situation.”
Bahl further added, “The encroachments by vendors, hawkers and shopkeepers around Vardhman Mall have left no pedestrian space on the footpaths. There is no escape route for emergency situations and ambulances and fire engines struggle to cross this stretch upto to Ramphal Chowk. Sanitation and garbage management are also serious issues here.”
Speaking on the subject, area councillor Aman Kumar said, “I have already met with the DDA and PWD officials for road and waterlogging issues. In the park behind Brahma Apartments restoration work has started. As far as encroachment is concerned, we are planning for a joint drive with other agencies. Furthermore, the SDMC is tackling the sanitation issues in the area under its jurisdiction.”
