As Indirapuram readies itself for municipal elections for the first time, City Spidey gets into a free-wheeling conversation with residents to understand their perspective, and their demands from elected ward councillors.
Almost all high-rise societies of Ghaziabad are talking about how to
get residents’ names enrolled on the voter lists of the corporation.
AOAs have put up notices requesting residents to pick up forms and
submit them.
When City Spidey spoke to residents, almost everybody
expressed discontent over the kind of maintenance services being
provided by Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). It is to handle the
area’s maintenance till the municipal corporation takes over.
Saket Jain, a resident of Rishabh Cloud 9 in Ahinsa Khand, said, “The
representatives elected from the ward should pursue the issues that
have been worrying the residents. Nagar Nigam must properly execute
plans to convert Ghaziabad into a smart city in the truest sense of the
word. Sanitation should be of prime importance, and the corporation
should work towards modernisation. Pressure must be built on the GDA for
completing the development of the area as soon as possible.”
On a similar note, Mohit Dwivedi, a resident of Krishna Apra Garden
in Vaibhav Khand, said, “The issue of drainage and sewer lines is
important. And then, there are the issues of encroachment and management
of parking. Clear drains and sewers, open and well-lit roads and a
secure neighbourhood are our justified demands.”
Rakesh Kumar from Amrapali Village under Makanpur ward said, “Issues
such as unorganised parking, bad roads and encroachment come under the
purview of the municipal corporation. Despite our efforts, we have
failed to rid our neighbourhood of these problems. Once Nagar Nigam is
in action, it should be able to take care of these issues.”
Residents also said that the municipal corporation must take over
maintenance, as GDA is more of a development-driven body. “GDA can’t
play two completely different roles, and has to concentrate more on
development, leaving maintenance to the municipal corporation,” said a
resident.
Among the new wards of Makanpur, Vaibhav Khand, Shipra Suncity,
Ahinsa Khand, Gyan Khand, Shakti Khand and Abhay Khand, the last four
are reserved for women ward councillors.
