Ranchi's New Nagar Colony Grapples with Multiple Civic Crises
Residents of New Nagar Colony in Ranchi's Ward No. 6 are enduring a multifaceted crisis, with severe waterlogging, inadequate waste management, safety threats from anti-social elements, and a potentially dangerous low-lying transformer near a temple posing significant hazards. The situation has escalated to alarming levels, particularly during monsoon seasons, prompting urgent calls for municipal intervention.
Severe Waterlogging and Drainage Failures
Poor drainage systems, exacerbated by land encroachment, have led to chronic waterlogging in the area. During monsoon seasons, water levels can rise three to four feet above ground in some locations, submerging several roads and making daily life perilous. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed for rescue operations in the past two years, highlighting the severity of the issue.
Mithlesh Kumar Sinha, a resident, reported, "Waterlogging during the monsoon is relentless near Shiv Ram Mandir in Bandhgadhi due to the lack of proper drainage outlets." Anil Kumar Goswami from Jai Prakash Nagar added, "Waterlogging is a constant problem here, but the situation worsens when water from household soak pits overflows and mixes with the stagnant water."
Inadequate Waste Management and Environmental Concerns
Waste disposal has become a major headache for locals, as Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) vans rarely visit the locality for garbage collection. This negligence has transformed a dried-up local pond in the Bandhgadhi area into an unofficial dumping ground, with several vacant plots also being used for waste disposal.
Awadesh Singh, a local resident, expressed frustration, stating, "Since there is no regular waste collection by the RMC, I have to walk nearly two kilometres to dispose of my household garbage. There is an urgent need for a municipal dustbin in this area."
Safety Threats and Anti-Social Activities
Parts of the ward witness gatherings of anti-social elements every evening, creating an unsafe environment for residents, especially women, after dark. Vineeta Devi from the Chhuna Bhatti area shared her concerns, saying, "Drug users and anti-social elements gather near the government school. We are afraid to step out after sunset. Whenever the police arrive after receiving information, the miscreants disperse, only to return the next day."
Hazardous Transformer Poses Temple Risk
Residents have also raised alarms about a power transformer installed at a low height, barely 10 feet from a Shiv temple. This poses a significant risk, particularly during festivals like Shivratri when thousands of devotees gather. Sunil Kumar, a local, explained, "About a dozen of us stand around the transformer to prevent anyone from going near it. It should be relocated immediately to avoid potential accidents."
The cumulative impact of these issues underscores the urgent need for comprehensive municipal action to address waterlogging, improve waste management, enhance safety measures, and mitigate hazards in New Nagar Colony.
