Life on edge for residents of this colony at Ambala

AMBALA: The absence of the drainage facility at Chanderpuri, an unauthorised colony in Ward No. 16, is the bane of Shamlal (40), a labourer, and his family members, who have been living in a house constructed in a low-lying area surrounded by stagnant water for the past several months.

People use a temporary bamboo bridge to cross a waterlogged area in Chanderpuri. Dev Dutt Sharma

Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, February 6

The absence of the drainage facility at Chanderpuri, an unauthorised colony in Ward No.16, is the bane of Shamlal (40), a labourer, and his family members, who have been living in a house constructed in a low-lying area surrounded by stagnant water for the past several months. To reach the road, the family has built a temporary bridge using bamboo.

“Water has been stagnant here since October following rain. Initially, we kept crossing the waterlogged area, but one day my children were bitten by a snake after which we decided to build a temporary bridge. We have paid nearly Rs 20,000 rent since for the bamboo,” said Shamlal.

“Things get more difficult when someone is sick as doctors don’t come here. Recently, I had to use a truck tyre tube as a boat to take my wife to a doctor. Children miss school and get injured due to the same reason,” he said.

Ashwini Sharma, a local resident, said, “Children and old people face a lot of inconvenience during rain as roads remain waterlogged for days. Earlier, water used to be diverted towards the fields of Machonda village, but farmers there have created a blockade as the water used to damage their crops. Not only roads, trees have also suffered damaged due to continuous waterlogging. We live in constant fear of diseases. A drain should be constructed at the earliest.”

Chitra Sarwara, Congress leader and former councillor from Ward No.16, said, “We have been taking up the issue with the authorities for the past five years, but to no avail. The project to construct a drain was scrapped, and last year, BJP leaders claimed that a drain would be constructed, but nothing has been done.”

Satinder Siwach, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said, “Chanderpuri is a low-lying area and due to cheaper rates, a large number of people have purchased houses there. A drain will be constructed by the Irrigation Department and the outlets of Chanderpuri will be connected with this drain to resolve the issue permanently.”