Owing to the delimitation carried out by Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, or GMC, this year and the formation of seven new wards in Indirapuram, the race for the position of local councillors is at its peak in the township. However, there is much confusion among residents about the roles their representatives are going to play after getting elected. Thus is because much of Indirapuram is still undergoing development at the hands of the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). The body is responsible for the area’s maintenance, which is essentially part of the GMC's role in the area.
Speaking to City Spidey, most of the candidates who had filed for councillor nominations said they would strive for a proper handover from GDA to GMC, so the latter can be directly involved in residents' welfare.
Shaili Singh, an independent candidate from Ahinsa Khand (Ward 98), said, “On becoming a people’s elected representative, I want to influence GDA on optimal utilisation of available resources,” Singh said. Representatives of local AOAs and the Federation of AOAs have pledged their support to Singh.
Abhinav Jain, a BJP candidate from Vaibhav Khand (Ward 99), also shared similar sentiments. He said that with the BJP wielding power in the state and in control of both GDA and GMC, there was a stronger possibility of a smooth and quick handover.
Similar views were shared by Seema Saxena, an Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate from Ahinsa Khand (Ward 98). Saxena said that she would strive to implement her party’s agenda of establishing mohalla clinics, ensuring proper water supply, women's safety and primary education.
City Spidey also spoke to residents about the role of their to-be councillors. Mohit Dwivedi, resident of Krishna Apra Garden in Vaibhav Khand, said that until the area was handed over to GMC, the local councillors would not be able to play an effective role. “The area is directly under the UP government and is managed from Lucknow. The local municipality cannot enter the area of the state government,” Dwivedi added.
Rajendra Pathak, resident of Nyay Khand 2, which comes under Ward 57 (an existing municipal ward also shared by Makanpur village), told City Spidey that while the Makanpur area enjoyed the services of GMC, Nyay Khand 2 did not come under its jurisdiction.
“Our portion of Ward 57 comes under GDA and hence, despite electing a councillor all these years, we received no benefits from the municipal corporation. The new wards will also face the same issue,” Pathak added.
Speaking to City Spidey, Alok Kumar, president of FedAOA, said that since councillors were representatives of a large number of people, they could play a major role in influencing GDA to transfer charge. “Although there are not many registered voters in high-rise societies, the councillors elected from these areas will have a large support base, as these societies have a good population density. The recent documents filed by GDA before NGT in response to one of our petitions suggests that GDA is holding meetings and already mobilising to hand over Indirapuram to GMC,” Kumar added.
