open house response

July 7 rain shows MCs preparedness In view of the past experiences, the residents living in the southern sectors, especially in Sectors 39 to 47, have made several requests to the authorities concerned to clean the roads and sewerage before the monsoons, but no effective measures were taken. As a result the roads remain unclean. On top of that, potholes at several places cause trouble to the people especially during nights. Ever year due to rain, water gets accumulated on the roads, which also damages it to a great extent. Water stagnates at several places in the city, especially near the Press Chowk, dividing Sector 8 and 18, and also adjacent to the Sector 17 bus stop, including road leading to Sector 35 from Attawa village, Sector 43, 44 and 45. Moreover, the rainwater of the entire city flows towards the southern sectors as its level is lower than the rest. At present, roads are filled with malba and litter. This should be cleaned immediately along with the sewerages of the area. The residents face a tough time during the monsoon every year as rainwater enters their houses. For instance, the residents, especially of Sector 40C, suffered huge damage due to the downpour last year, which was just 75 mm. In 2003, people had witnessed flood-like situation. Though the Municipal Corporation has widened the roads, absence of cleanliness has foiled their efforts. This is evident from the fact that the two hour rainfall created flood-like situation. As per reports, there are about 30,000 gullies and only 100 men were hired to clean all these. Every year sufficient funds are earmarked to clean gullies and drainage system. But the two hours rain on July 7 proved effectiveness of our civil bodies in keeping the city neat and clean. In several sectors, residents were seen in keen-deep water struggling to clean their driveway and area adjacent to their house. Blame game began when waterlogging was witnessed in the city. The MC should work well before the onset of monsoons to avoid such situations. What is the use of forming water supply and sewerage disposal committee when the city has to witness a flood-like situation? This is a sheer negligence on the part of our councillors as well as the officials concerned who are playing with the lives of the residents. Not only this, there has been a steep increase in cases of diarrhoea ever since the first death case was reported on July 1. Though the authorities concerned claimed the water supplied in the area was chlorinated and fit for human consumption, the residents claimed that they have been using contaminated water for the last many days. All claims of sanitation of the MC fell flat as hundred of persons, especially those living in colonies and slums, have already been hit by diarrhoea. Undoubtedly, the MC should have made all arrangements well before the monsoons and should have chalked out a well-planned programme to avoid spreading of the diseases. SK Khosla Monsoon misery The Modern Housing Complex in Manimajra, launched with much fanfare by Chandigarh Housing Board in1992, discredits its name at the onset every monsoon. The manmade low-lying pucca garages lanes in some of the category I and II turn into muddy canals and continue to look so long after the showers are over. Images of slush and sewage sludge meet a common mans eyes on the street besides, the nauseating smell. Living in the residential quarters for more than two decades, residents in the Modern Housing Complex are expecting to be heard fairly by the Chandigarh Housing Board. The ramps for parking vehicles and the area below are full of water at several places and no permanent solution has been found despite repeated request to the authorities concerned. Chief engineers, in the past, have carried out inspections on a number of occasions. However, till date nobody has made concrete suggestions. Whenever a top officer relinquished his charge the entire process has to commence from point zero and by the time things came to a point when things look bright, we hear that the officer has left. The wait for the light of the day seems unending on the dark road of monsoon misery. SC Luthra Poor streetlighting One of my neighbours, Jasmohan Singh, fell from his scooter when his scooter got stuck in a pit near the turn of our street a few days back. Deepak, a four-year-old from my neighbourhood, fell in a small pit near the market where he went after dark. Besides the problem of waterlogging in the Modern Housing Complex, walking during late evening is very difficult due to poor streetlighting. These are not working on crucial turns more than often. Instead of fixing the potholes, the authorities concerned need to take a holistic view of the issue and make a unified plan of action to bring out a real solution. Gujrant Sandhu

Mani Majra Residents fed up with false promises A couple of weeks before the monsoon, citizens have been had been eagerly waiting for the first downpour. It was believed that the monsoon would end the woes of residents as the Chandigarh Administration had made all arrangements to ward off waterlogging issue. The first downpour was enough to flatten their claims and the residents faced insurmountable troubles and inconvenience as almost every part of the city was deluged under water. Interestingly, the health wing in its status report had claimed that it had cleared thirty thousand road gullies in the city to preempt waterlogging. The roundabouts in the city presented a calamity like situation. Water entered houses of those living in low-lying areas and colonies. The situation worsens with the outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera in certain colonies. This happened after the authorities concerned assured the residents that safe drinking water is being supplied to them. Interestingly, water samples taken from the affected-area failed the lab tests. Various residents complained that they were receiving muddy water in their taps. Residents of southern sectors were the worse sufferers. The officers were content with putting up false claims and lame excuses. The worst happened in Vikas Nagar Mauli Jagran, where potable water got mixed with the sewerage resulting in deaths and many falling ill. The public outcry was simply being washed off by the officers until now. Recently, in Sector 49 a 19-year-old boy drowned in a pond situated in Animal Park as rainwater had accumulated in the artificial pond. The drainage system is totally insufficient in the city. The residents have been fed up with the false promises made by the authorities concerned. Satish Chandra Sharma

Chandigarh Encourage rainwater harvesting The monsoon showers have brought great relief to the people as the mercury level went down. But it has also adversely affected peoples health. Colonies and streets are full of potholes where mosquitoes breed and spread the danger of dengue, malaria. Waterlogged on the streets is a pain in the neck for the travelers, especially for the two-wheeler and pedestrians. These are a few suggestions for improvement: Water should not be stagnated to avoid mosquitoes breeding. Rainwater harvesting should be practiced so that water is not wasted. Authorities should improve the drainage system so that the water does not clog. People should refrain from eating out to avoid chances of food poisoning and diarrhoea. Also, avoid getting wet in rain to reduce risk of cough and cold. Two-wheeler drivers and pedestrians can use public transport to avoid facing waterlogged on streets. These small steps can help us go a long way in this monsoon and enjoy it to the fullest. Isha Dahiya Tricity is not ready to face monsoon With rainy season round the corner, the tricity doesnt seem ready to face the monsoon. Open drains, uncovered manholes, dug up roads and road gullies full of mud covered with polythene bags and dry leaves have made residents lives hell. The monsoon showers are expected to leave the city inundated by bringing the city to a halt with most of the roundabouts, parking lots and streets flooded with rainwater. The garbage, slush and dry leaves keep on piling up and block the drains. The MCs tall claims have proved hollow. Authorities concern should take action to clean road gullies to avoid waterlogging. Infections and rainy season go hand in hand. The issue of water-borne diseases is more about prevention than care. The summer is already here, so first of all clean water should be made available to the residents. Providing clean drinking water will solve most of the problems related to water-borne diseases. In the absence of water purifying systems, it is of utmost importance to boil water before drinking. The intake of water should be increased. People must avoid having food from street vendors like cut fruit, fruit juices, milk shakes and other such products. In case of gastro-intestinal disturbance, increase the fluid intake, take small meals and take small sips of ORS or homemade drinks like lime juice. Shruti K Chawla

Sector 38C Monsoon pangs Every year with the approaching monsoon, MCs tall claims always fall short. The first rain has brought life in tricity to a halt with water entering houses and waterlogging. The worst affected are the roundabouts and slip lanes which tend to remain flooded during monsoon making these areas accident prone. The garbage, polythene bags and dry leaves keep on piling up and choke the drains which leads to water logging. The MC has miserably failed to manage water logging. There is a lack of co-ordination among various departments which causes lot of inconvenience to the people. There is a need to upgrade the drainage system. Roads also need to be re-aligned in accordance to the natural flow of water. Vineet Kapoor Authorities unprepared for monsoon Keeping in view the potentially disastrous effects of climate change, the authorities must be prepared for the worst to keep the city secure from destruction caused by the rain. Just two hours of rain on July 7 led to water logging and disrupted life in many parts of the tricity. This clearly shows that the authorities are unprepared for the monsoon. During the monsoon, water logging and breakout of infections is a serious issue which the authorities should check. During the rainy season, water logging is common which leads to the spreading of infections. Around 60 per cent of the diseases caused to human beings are water borne, with children below five years of age being more susceptible. Cleaning process of road gullies should take place side by side during the season and residents who are not well educated or not well aware should be taught minutely about the precautions to be taken during the monsoon. Diarrhoea which has spread in many parts of the tricity has killed some people already. So to avoid that, potholes covered with filth should be cleaned. As far as the civic authorities are concerned, they should start doing work as soon as possible so no major problem takes place during the rainy season. Guryog Kaur

SAS Nagar Public money being wasted I am residing in Chandigarh since 1954. Whenever it rains heavily, the roads become virtually fast flowing rivulets and cause lots of problem/hazards to the residents. This also damages the roads severely causing surface erosion, big potholes, water logging and seepage underground. The storm water drainage system (SWD) has been poorly designed. It does not cater for the heavy rain. The pipe diameters need to be made bigger, may be four to five- time from the existing one. These pipes were laid some 50 years ago. There were lesser pucca roads and more scope for seepage underground. The road gullies are also poorly designed as it interferes with the pedestrian paths. The SWD must be properly maintained before the onset of the rainy season so that the water flows uninterrupted through the pipes. In Chandigarh there is around 30,000 road gullies for which the municipal corporation has placed Rs.2 crore at the disposal to clean them and it is surprising that only 100 persons have been deployed for this task, which is just an eye wash. The widened road gullies in southern sectors remain open/un-covered for more than one month and have been hazard for the pedestrian some senior citizens had a narrow escape as it come in the way of pedestrian path, secondly, by that time sufficient filth/polythene/soil have entered the gullies which are sufficient to chock it and very purpose of widening the road gullies have been defeated. I fail to understand why the public money is being wasted like this? The work which is required to be completed well before the monsoon is still being undertaken. Chandigarh is slowly becoming like any other Indian city and cannot be called a modern planned city. Scores of diarrhoea cases have been reported due to water logging and unhealthy conditions. First pre-monsoon showers of 15 to 20 minutes which measured just 4.7 mm rainfall exposed the high claim of the municipal corporation. Though the municipal corporation had given July 7 as the deadline for completion/cleaning of road gullies but due to the dilly-dallying attitude of the corporation it is moving at a snails pace and like previous years this time too residents will have to put up with the acute water-logging problem and Rs 2-core year marked for the task goes waste. Kulbhushan Kanwar

Sector 48 Open House Question The Chandigarh Administration is working out details regarding the implementation of a metro rail project for addressing the issue of mass rapid transit system (MRT) in the city. Write your opinion on the issue, possible hardships and possible alternatives for the movement of traffic in context of overburdened roads to the openhouse@tribunemail.com.