East or west, Delhi’s sordid tale of broken promises is same

Rajouri Garden in West Delhi and Shahdara in East Delhi, two distinct areas located on opposite sides of the city, may be known for their vibrant garment markets and delectable street food, but they also share a series of persistent challenges.

The residents are united by a web of urban problems - crumbling infrastructure, polluted water, neglected parks and a desperate plea for better sanitation.

In Rajouri Garden, the BJP has fielded two-time MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, AAP has nominated incumbent MLA Dhanwati Chandela and Dharampal Chandela will contest for the Congress.

In Shahdara, AAP has fielded Jitender Singh Shunty, BJP has nominated Sanjay Goyal, and Congress has chosen Jagat Singh.

Under the hullabaloo of a vibrant political campaign, the underlying sentiment among the residents is of deep frustration with many expressing skepticism that no matter who is in power, the issues they face will remain unresolved.

While the bustling market areas draw visitors, localities themselves are marred by narrow lanes, overflowing garbage piles, broken roads and perpetual traffic congestion. These problems plague not only local residents but also visitors, leaving people frustrated and disillusioned with the promises made by political leaders.

During a visit to check the pulse of these constituencies, The Tribune spoke with several residents to understand their grievances. One common issue emerged - neglected parks that have become little more than barren wastelands. Many residents complained of water shortage, leaving the parks barren and unusable.

In Rajouri Garden’s A Block, Raghubir Nagar, Gulsharan, a local resident, shared her frustration, saying, “Though it has been 21 years since my marriage, the park in this area has never been completed. Even the gate was locked for years. It’s only recently that it’s been opened. This park is abandoned,” she said, sitting under a tree with her neighbours.

Madan Mohan Sethi, another resident, highlighted the issues beyond the parks. “The main issue here is sanitation. The water that comes through the lines is contaminated. The narrow lanes are also problematic. This park may not serve people, it’s more like a place for cows and dogs,” he said, pointing out the lack of basic facilities like water and proper lighting.

In Harijan Basti, Tilak Nagar, part of Rajouri Garden, residents were even more vocal about the water crisis. Dharampal Singh Chaddha, sitting outside his house with a newspaper in hand, said: “Water supply is irregular here. It’s been an issue since the colony was established.”

Lakhmi Chand, another resident, said, “The current MLA doesn’t even come to listen to us. Water is available only during Holi, and even then, it’s only for a few hours early in the morning. After that, we rely on tankers and water cans.”

Another resident, Laxmi Singh, shared her frustrations with politicians. “There’s no point in voting. They only show up during elections, make promises and disappear. We live in an unauthorised colony. So, getting loans or buying property is also difficult. With the ever-increasing inflation, life is becoming harder for us,” she said.

In Shahdara, the situation was no different, with residents expressing similar frustrations. Divya, a resident of Jhilmil Colony, said: “I won’t vote this time. All politicians are busy pulling each other’s legs. No one thinks about our well-being. Roads are dirty. Despite sanitation workers cleaning the roads in the morning, they’re filthy by afternoon. It feels like the place is never cleaned.”

Meena, sitting in a nearby park, said, “There are so many issues, but what’s the point of voicing them? No one listens, and nothing ever changes.”

Local parks here, like in Rajouri Garden, were also in disrepair. The Tribune observed barren patches of sand in one park, with benches built by the former MLA, but no water meters in sight.

A few kilometers away in Dilshad Garden, complaints intensified, particularly about law and order and infrastructure. Dolly Bhalla, a resident, said, “Accidents happen here all time, but nothing is done about it. No matter which party is in power, nothing changes.”

Paramjeet Kaur, who had just returned from work, spoke about water cuts, especially during festivals like Diwali. “Last year, we went without water for 10 days. It’s hard to clean, cook, or even drink water when it’s contaminated. Sometimes, it’s yellow and smells awful,” she said.

In Dilshad Garden, residents felt abandoned by political leaders who, despite making promises, failed to address the most basic issues. Gurpreet, who was taking her father home on a scooty, summed up the sentiment. “The situation is such that we are just living, not living well. The problems are endless, and they’ve been the same for years,” she said.