Ranchi Civic Neglect Haunts Wards 11 and 12 Ahead of Crucial Municipal Polls
As Ranchi prepares for municipal elections scheduled for February 23, residents of wards 11 and 12 under the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) are voicing their deep frustration over persistent civic failures that have plagued their neighborhoods for years. Irregular household waste collection, contaminated tap water, dilapidated roads, and clogged open drains have emerged as the primary concerns that voters say will heavily influence their electoral choices.
Years of Neglected Basic Services
Following the announcement of civic body polls in Jharkhand for February, residents from both wards have expressed profound dissatisfaction with what they describe as systemic neglect of essential municipal services. The announcement has brought long-standing grievances to the forefront, with locals asserting that repeated representations to authorities have yielded little improvement in their daily living conditions.
Ward 11: Erratic Waste Collection and Drainage Woes
Ward 11, covering areas including Dangratoli, Kantatoli, Harijan Basti, Netaji Nagar, and parts of Lalpur, faces particularly severe challenges with waste management. Mohammad Aslam Khan, a local resident, highlighted the erratic nature of door-to-door garbage collection. "Although RMC claims to collect household waste regularly and has installed RFID tags on houses, sometimes garbage collection vehicles do not come for an entire week," Khan revealed. This inconsistency forces many households to dump waste on roadsides, drains, or vacant plots, significantly worsening hygiene conditions throughout the area.
Saroj Kumar, another resident of Netaji Nagar, pointed to drainage issues as a major concern. "The drains in our area are not regularly cleaned by authorities, which often leads to drain water overflowing onto roads, especially during the monsoon season," Kumar explained. Road conditions have also deteriorated significantly, with broken surfaces making daily commuting difficult for residents.
Ward 12: Tragic Consequences of Poor Drainage
Similarly, residents of ward 12, comprising areas such as Lowadih, Maulana Azad Colony, Ilahi Baksh Colony, Gaus Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Garhatoli, and Shamlong, are grappling with a severely compromised drainage system. The gravity of the situation was tragically underscored on January 20 when a two-and-a-half-year-old boy died after he and his elder brother slipped and fell into an open drain in Maulana Azad Colony while playing nearby.
Guddu Singh, a resident of Maulana Azad Colony, described the dire state of drainage. "The drainage system here is very poor. Throughout the year, drains remain clogged with garbage, and no one comes to clean them. Waste collection vehicles never enter the narrow lanes," Singh stated emphatically. "When candidates come campaigning this election season, we will certainly raise these critical issues."
Contaminated Water Adds to Residents' Burden
Beyond waste and drainage problems, residents face additional hardships with drinking water. Mohammad Tarik, another area resident, shared his family's struggle. "Although we have municipal tap water connections, the water is not usable for drinking. We often receive muddy water, leaving us with no option but to purchase drinking water daily," Tarik lamented, highlighting the financial burden this imposes on households already struggling with inadequate services.
Contrasting Perspectives from Former Councillors
The responses from former councilors of the affected wards reveal contrasting perspectives on the current situation. Ranju Singh, former councilor of ward 11 from 2018-23, claimed that everything was streamlined during his tenure. "Since 2023, civic body polls have not taken place, which might have worsened the situation now," Singh suggested, distancing himself from current complaints.
In contrast, Kulbhusan Dungdung, former councilor of ward 12, acknowledged the ongoing problems with drainage systems and waste collection. "During my tenure, almost 90% of the drains were rebuilt. COVID acted as a major deterrent in developing the ward further," Dungdung explained, recognizing the challenges while citing pandemic-related disruptions.
Election Implications and Resident Resolve
As the February 23 municipal elections approach, the accumulated frustrations of residents in wards 11 and 12 have transformed into political determination. The consistent failure to address basic civic amenities—from waste management and drainage to road maintenance and water quality—has created a potent electoral issue that candidates cannot ignore. Residents have made it clear that their voting decisions will be heavily influenced by which candidates demonstrate genuine commitment to solving these long-standing problems that affect their health, safety, and quality of life on a daily basis.
