Lakhs of Mosquitoes -Life Has Become Miserable-No Respite In Spite of Some Efforts By DJB & MCD
The so-called storm water drain, which has turned in to a sewer drain, is flowing behind R, S & B Blocks for the past several years. It has lately turned in to a night mare for thousands of residents of these three blocks, due to stagnating water. Reason being that DJB under the orders of NGT & other agencies has built some kind of a reservoir behind B Block to entrap the sewer water, for doing some kind of a treatment before releasing the stinking water into the Yamuna.
However, as a result of this barricading, water has become stagnant downstream, leading to the growth of several lakhs of mosquitoes & unbearable stench, affecting thousands of residents of these blocks.
Several reminders sent to the authorities had no effect. It had become absolutely impossible to step out of houses in the evening, leave aside seating in the balconies or terraces.
Fed up with the attitude of several departments, where no one was ready to take responsibility, I wrote to TOI about the pathetic conditions. After their reporter & camera man, visited the area, met several residents on 19 April, an article with photos & bytes from residents, appeared on 22 April, 24. After this news item, several teams appeared on the scene & some work started in consultation with the MC of SBWS & GS of GKRA.
DJB team headed by Ex En Shri Saraswat released the stagnant water by making an opening in the wall, Malaria dept. sprayed anti larva medicines, which they had done on earlier occasions too & MCD maintenance wing started clearing the malba & garbage. Anti Larva spray was done in all the houses along the nalla wall.
Cleaning continued over the next 2-3 days, anti Larva spray was done again. Spurred by these efforts, TOI carried another report on 23 April, confirming that cleaning has started.
Mosquito problem & population reduced by almost 50 % with all these measures. One truck load of garbage removed from the Nalla was also picked up by MCD.
However, there was a heavy rain on the night of 26 April, resulting in the flooding of Nalla.The old stagnating water was flushed out but the level of water increased, thereby stopping the cleaning operation.
MCD insisted that cleaning operation can start only if the water level receded had no clue how to flush out water as the AE claimed that they do not have pumps. After much haggling some gate valve was opened by DJB around 5 May, reducing the level. MCD was duly informed with videos & pictures.
Mosquito increased again & things were back to square one. Malaria Control dept, helped & continued to spray medicines again & again officers do not have a clue from where sewer water is flowing in. Several reminders have been sent to DJB officials but the problem is not being resolved. NGT on the other hand has been reprimanding DJB, PWD & DDA for releasing Sewer water in another Nalla coming from Malviya Nagar side & merging in to this Nalla in B Block.
All the departments are passing the buck & we, the residents, do not know what is going to be our fate, with the condition deteriorating day by day.
Most of the departments say that things might improve after elections as most of their staff is busy in the election duty.
Meanwhile, residents are relying on Mosquito killers, anti-mosquito spray & lotions & confining themselves inside their homes.
