Families living in Madhavanand Colony, in Ward No. 2 of Dholpur city in Rajasthan, have been battling stagnant sewage for the past three to four years. The sewer line and drains in the area have stayed clogged for so long that even a light spell of rain leaves the streets flooded with foul smelling water that can take days to recede. With no proper drainage system in place, the water creeps right up to the doorsteps of homes, forcing residents to wade through the filth just to step outside. Locals say the situation only gets worse every monsoon, and no lasting fix has been carried out so far.
Potholes everywhere, and children can no longer play
The colony's main road is pockmarked with deep potholes that stay filled with dirty rainwater. Small children and elderly residents alike are seen picking their way through this water every single day. According to locals, the waterlogging has completely put an end to children playing outdoors, and several kids have no choice but to wade through the same contaminated water on their way to school. At times the water rises so high that it becomes hard to even tell where the road ends and a pothole begins.
Arun's accusation: netas vanish after winning
Resident Arun says children, the elderly and women bear the brunt of the waterlogging. He says several elderly people have slipped in the water and been injured. His accusation is direct: elected representatives show up in the colony asking for votes at election time, but never pay attention to the problem once they have won.
Waterlogging all year round, complaints that go nowhere
Sonu Kumar, another resident, says the colony deals with waterlogging all twelve months of the year, and the monsoon season only makes things worse. He says the drains and sewer line have been defunct for close to three years now. The potholes on the road constantly put passersby at risk of slipping and getting hurt, and the stench rising from the dirty water makes it hard to even pass through the area. According to Sonu, complaints have been raised with the Dholpur Municipal Council, local elected representatives and the Dholpur district administration multiple times, but no real solution has come of it.
Snakes, scorpions, and a child who was bitten
Resident Mukesh Thakur says the dirty water carries a constant risk of infection and skin ailments. He says snakes, scorpions and other venomous creatures are frequently spotted in the waterlogged spots. A few days ago, a young girl was bitten by a snake and was saved only because she was rushed to hospital in time. Mukesh and other residents are demanding that the district administration and elected representatives get the blocked sewer line and drains cleaned immediately, and put in place a permanent drainage system so children and the elderly no longer have to wade through dirty water every day.
