As the construction work of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) residential project near ISBT progresses, the residents of the flats have already started accusing the authority of turning a blind eye towards the maintenance of basic sanitation here.
Recently, overflowing sewers in the colony had made life difficult for the residents who then got the area cleaned at their own expense.
The 97 flats already prepared as part of the MDDA housing project near ISBT present a sorry sight with overflowing sewers and trash littered around.
The residents complain that the MDDA has remained apathetic to the lack of sanitation here due to which people are reluctant to stay here.
According to a resident Raees Ahmed, “Some days back the gutters started overflowing. We had complained to various MDDA officials but no action was taken by the authority. We finally spent our money to get the area cleaned and get some repairs done. The situation is slightly better now but there is no provision of maintaining sanitation with the MDDA remaining apathetic to this place.”
Another resident who wished not to be named said, “This area has become a hub for various objectionable activities. There is trash all around as there is no proper waste disposal system in place. In the absence of door to door collection of garbage, the flats are surrounded by garbage dumped in the open,” she said.
The MDDA secretary Banshidhar Tiwari said that work is in progress and the sewage problem will be resolved soon. However, the residents are not satisfied with the level of civic sanitation in the area.
It is pertinent to mention here that improper or inadequate drainage facilities affect the level of sanitation in various localities of the State capital. The effects of the lack of inter-departmental coordination and unplanned urbanisation are evident at the MDDA flats near ISBT where funds are being spent and land has been used for construction of a residential facility that is already in a sorry state before the completion of the project.
More than 600 residential units are being constructed here for various income groups.