A large, open drain outside SG Grand and River Heights, residential societies in Rajnagar Extension, is giving the residents sleepless nights as they fear that an untoward incident is just waiting to happen.
The drain has been left uncovered from River Heights till SG Grand along NH-58. Though a narrow 2-feet wall has been raised around it to distinguish it from adjacent lanes, residents feel the drain still poses a grave threat to pedestrians and motorists.
“We are afraid for our kids. In the last six months, two dogs and a cat fell to their death in the drain. Are the authorities waiting for something worse to happen?” said Loveleen Bhatnagar, a resident of the SG society.
Just recently, an eight-year-old girl had died in Indirapuram after falling into an open drain. And the residents here are worried that the situation can invite a similar accident.
The residents say that the clogged drain has also become a health hazard as it serves a breeding ground for diseases causing bacteria.
The foul smell emanating from the drain has made the entire area smell of garbage. Pramod Dhanked, a resident of River Heights, said the stench is worst around River Heights Complex (a market complex between the two societies). “It’s difficult to even stand there.”
He also blamed the residents and street hawkers for the mess. “Despite having installed sewage treatment plant (STP), many societies discharge sewer water directly into the drain. The street hawkers operating along the roadside also throw garbage in the drain,” Dhanked added.
The residents say they have complained to the authorities several times about the situation but no action has been taken so far.
“When we complained to the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), they asked us to contact the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN). The GNN, however, says the area hasn’t been handed over to them yet. How can they shy away from the responsibility of covering an open drain?” he added.
Meanwhile, Gajendra Arya, president of Federation of AOA, Raj Nagar Extension, said that apart from covering the drain, a reflector should also be installed on the parapet walls. “It will help motorists locate the drain and maintain a safe distance from it,” he added.
