For scores of Tilak Nagar residents, it is a struggle to stake claim to basic facilities such as clean drinking water, electricity and a systematic discharge of the waste. Dwellers of Ravi Nagar, Dharampuri, block C, D and E, Khyala and Vishnu Garden areas are seething due to lack of basic amenities in their areas. The water supplied in the colonies is dirty, which is taking a toll on the health of the residents. With no new schools opened in the area in the past five years, local residents keep whining that it has become very difficult for their children to get admission to Government schools. In an atmosphere that is conducive to rampant illegal constructions and land grabbing cases, inhabitants have lost their faith in law and order.
Tilak Nagar constituency has traditionally been a Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) stronghold and the saffron party hopes to retain the seat in the upcoming elections. Sixty five per cent of the voters in the constituency comprise of Sikhs and Punjabis, who have been casting their votes in favour of the BJP. The saffron party has kept in mind the caste and community combinations while issuing tickets and has thus fielded four-time legislator, OP Babbar’s son, Rajiv Babbar to contest from the seat. However, it will be a huge challenge for him to retain his father’s customary voters, as public anger against present MlA OP Babbar has been mounting in the area due to burning issues of inflation, inflated power bills and water shortage. Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing within the Congress party to retrieve the seat from the clutches of the Opposition.
Residents complained that though a hospital was promised in Tilak Nagar, it is yet to open. In the absence of any hospital, people have to go all the way to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital even for first aid. “People are not getting any benefit due to revision of circle rates, but they are made to pay hefty taxes. The roads in the area are broken and availability of clean, drinking water is still a far-fetched dream. With the date of elections coming close, the MlA of the area — who is usually unavailable to hear the public grievances — has started meeting people. The MlA fund is being misused since the last six months,” said Devender Verma, a resident of Tilak Vihar.
Tilak Nagar market and residential areas face an acute shortage of parking space due to which violent fights are a common scene. “Tilak Nagar faces an acute shortage of the parking space. With the number of cars increasing in the area, the need is being felt for a multi-level parking,” said VK lalwani, president of the New Market Shopkeepers Welfare Association. Other local residents also said that the area lacks community centres.