Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Once counted among Rudrapur’s posh localities, Awas Vikas now paints a grim picture of civic neglect. With a population of about 7000, residents here are struggling daily with broken roads, encroached parks, dilapidated electric poles, polluted rivers, and poor sanitation facilities.
Public parks, intended for walking and exercise, have turned into unauthorized parking lots, causing inconvenience to visitors. “Most parks remain occupied by vehicles even during mornings and evenings, leaving no space for walking or sitting,” said Kaushal Bhagat, a local resident. Locals have demanded that the Rudrapur Municipal Corporation (RMC) immediately remove the encroachments, beautify the parks, install footpaths, benches, lighting, and open gyms.
Adding to the woes, the roads across Jagatpura’s lanes are riddled with potholes, with broken culverts making commuting hazardous. “Children and elderly residents often trip and fall. Urgent repairs are needed,” said Deepak Poddar. Jai Shankar and Mahendra Ram specifically highlighted the deplorable condition of main roads and inner lanes.
The Kalyani river flowing through the area has become a major health hazard. The river, choked with garbage and waste from nearby meat shops, emits a foul odor and poses a risk of disease. During the rainy season, dirty river water floods the streets and homes. “The river must be cleaned regularly, and a protective wall should be built to prevent flooding,” said Vicky Saini.
The Chhath Puja sites are also in dire need of attention. Worshippers often perform rituals in dirty water due to a lack of basic amenities such as cleanliness, drinking water, and lighting. “Both Chhath Ghats require regular maintenance, installation of submersible streetlights, and proper cleaning before the festival,” said residents.
Electric infrastructure is another pressing concern. Many electric poles are rusted and leaning dangerously, with sagging wires posing serious threats. “These poles should be replaced immediately to prevent accidents,” said Sunita, a resident.
The RMC’s sanitation services are stretched thin, with only six sanitation workers for the entire ward. Residents have demanded an increase in staff to at least ten, timely garbage collection, and installation of 60–70 new streetlights in addition to repairing broken ones.
Responding to the complaints, Councilor Saurabh Raj Behar said, “The number of sanitation workers will be increased. The old electric poles and loose wires will be replaced and tightened.” Municipal Commissioner Naresh Chandra Durgapal added, “Vehicles parked in parks will be removed soon. A survey is underway for Kalyani river cleaning, and we are considering building a protective wall.”
