Backstreets, the support system of main streets in a high density city like Delhi, are largely unkempt and neglected and often lined with air conditioners’ outdoor units and junk.
For instance, the backstreets in Greater Kailash-I are full of filth and are a breeding ground for dengue vector.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has, however, found a way to address the menace, at the request of the Residents Welfare Association by laying a thick carpet of cement.
The repair work reveals utter disregard for the environment and the tax payers’ money, not to mention health.
Ironically, the SDMC’s solution to avoid dengue is leading to more waterlogging with no soft surface for any water to seep in, creating more breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
That is not all. Some pits for rain water have been carved in the concrete spread, which have been connected with the sewer lines rather than harvesting pits or acquifers.
Whether the SDMC or the RWAs are to be blamed for such unwarranted use of concrete is unclear as every party claims to be in the dark.
At present, the SDMC is at work in N-block in GK I. The lane was not being cleaned properly following which the RWA made a request to the corporation through their councillor and BJP leader K.C. Taneja. It is the funds of the councillor from which such works get done but he is not aware if concrete would be laid or interlocking tiles.
He said he did not know if cement has been used anywhere in the backstreets across GK I.
An environmental activist said, “it is strange that the councillor’s fund — generated from tax payers’ money — is being used and he does not know what exactly would be done with it”.
While the SDMC claimed it only uses interlocking tiles, a visit to GK I revealed that many lanes are carpeted with concrete with literally no way for any water to percolate. Waterlogging could be seen in the concretised backstreets.
The residents of N Block want the lane clean but RWA stands divided between concrete and tiles with many believing, interlocking tiles lead to mosquito breeding. The RWA says it did make a request to the SDMC but it does not know if interlocking tiles would be used.
Its office bearers on condition of anonymity shared their inclination towards cementing as they doubt the maintainability of interlocking tiles, to the surprise of many environmental activists living in and around the area. They are now planning to move court against concretisation.
