As we bid adieu to 2023 and usher in 2024, we look at the Civic Report Card of our colony as seen through the eyes of the residents. A huge colony like GK-2 remains besieged with issues of varying dimensions at all times. We at Samvada, have raised these issues that have been plaguing our colony in our issues throughout 2023 and present below the status update on these issues at the close of the year.
1) Road Repair – While most of the colony roads falling under the PWD jurisdiction have been laid afresh and bear a new look, the inner roads of the colony that come under MCD continue to remain in a shambles. These potholed MCD roads are a nightmare for vehicles and pedestrians alike and pose a health hazard with water stagnating in these potholes at all times. These roads need to be urgently re-laid.
2) Tree Pruning – There is nothing to write home about this activity that continues to remain neglected. Unpruned branches of trees can be seen hanging almost throughout the colony.
3) Backlanes Cleaning – GKIIWA efforts to clean the backlanes at specified frequency have continued on a rotational basis. Here again, no sooner is a backlane cleaned and the residents start littering it again, which negates the efforts undertaken to clean the lane. The residents need to stop treating the backlanes as trash bins.
4) Traffic Management – Traffic chaos continues unabated, particularly at three main stretches – opposite Mother Dairy, the T-Point near Bikanerwala and at the turning towards CR Park. At times, the traffic jams at these places have a long tailback effect with traffic spilling over to the inner roads of the colony as well. This apart, lanes near KR Mangalam World School remain choked too, especially during the school opening and closure timings. Better traffic management is required at all these spots.
5) Street Cleaning – Most streets are regularly cleaned. However, the practice of water flowing from driveways of the homes to the road outside remains unchecked and leads to accumulation of dirty water at several places along the road. This irresponsible behavior of the defaulting residents makes the roads look filthy all through the day.
6) Encroachment – Even though quite a few public spaces in the colony remain encroached upon, GKIIWA has filed a legal case in this regard and the matter is presently sub-judice.
7) Builder Menace – Although some half-hearted attempts were made to rein the defaulting builders, these efforts have largely remained at the individual resident level and have failed to make any impact beyond a point. The initiative to enforce a Builders Code of Conduct remains a pipedream and the Builders are getting away scot free with all kind of infractions.
8) Garbage Clearance – This is an area of huge concern as garbage bins and dhalaos across the colony are almost always overflowing with uncleared garbage.
9) Drainage System – The situation on this front has not changed much during the year. Dirty water continues to flow on the roads. The Drainage facilities of the colony have become obsolete and need complete overhaul.
10) Security System – The overall security management in the colony has been fortified by GKIIWA during the year with sealing of multiple entry/exit points at night and deployment of security personnel at strategic locations throughout the colony. Police patrolling has been intensified, too. While these measures have brought down the instances of nocturnal crimes, a few incidents of thefts, especially at public spots, still get reported during the daytime.
11) Maintenance of Parks – Most colony parks are well maintained and look aesthetically appealing. Unfortunately, these parks are frequented by dubious elements at most times which poses a threat to the colony security.
12) Maintenance of Main M Block Market – Although GK-2 now boasts of one of the most popular markets of the city, its upkeep remains poor. Haphazard parking, chaotic traffic, encroached passages, unhindered movement of beggars, stray dogs and general filth stick out as eyesores.
13) Simian Menace – the nuisance created by monkeys in the colony has increased during the year with several cases of monkey attacks and mischief coming to light. The need of the hour is for MCD to deploy monkey catchers to relocate stray monkeys from the colony to their natural habitat.
We hope these issues get effectively addressed in the New Year.
