6 days ago
Gurgaon: Sushant Lok RWA funds borewell pump repair amid ‘neglect' by municipal corporation
A resident welfare association in Gurgaon Sector 55 has used its funds to repair a water pump after the municipal corporation allegedly failed to address an acute water shortage that affected over 1,000 families for days. Members of the RWA of Sushant Lok Blocks A and A1 have accused the civic body of neglect and poor contractor oversight.
'We have been highlighting our water problem for two years now, but there has been no help. Last month, the contractor installed a pump that failed in just two weeks, used substandard motors and wires, and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram did nothing. Why hire such contractors? For five days, families suffered without water. Even now we are struggling and get water only once a day, another pump being maintained by the civic body is also in need of urgent repair,' said RWA president Vinita Sinha, adding that the repair, undertaken at a cost of Rs 5,000, was at best a 'band-aid' solution.
Adding to the residents' woes, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) issued notices threatening to cut water and sewer lines in the area–a move Sinha described as ironic given the non-functional water supply and overflowing sewers.
Residents also face challenges in contacting officials of the municipal corporation, Sinha said. 'We do not know who is responsible for our area. The numbers on the website yield no response; for everything we cannot go to the commissioner or a higher official,' she added.
When contacted, Executive Engineer Sandeep Sihag said he was not aware of the issue as the RWA had not complained to him. 'We have resolved such issues fully when concerned RWAs/sectors have recently come forward,' he said.
The Indian Express tried reaching out to Subdivisional Officer Kuldeep Kumar for comment. This report will be updated if Kumar comments.
Last month, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) directed the municipal corporation to disconnect illegal and direct connections made on master water supply pipelines of the GMDA and the civic body.
The move, once implemented, will mean that there will be no direct water supply to households without it being rerouted through the designated boosting stations that regulate pressure and flow. The decision was taken following reports that certain housing societies were installing water pipelines routed from the master water supply lines of the GMDA and the municipal corporation.