CHANDIGARH: Working on the precept that India can shine only if ‘Bharat’ does, the Chandigarh Administration in 2009 had decided to resolve to make its villages hold a candle to any modern sectors of the city. Out to make all its 13 villages wear an urbane look, equip them with modern basic facilities and improve the quality of life of its rural populace. The administration has been earmarking outlays each year to execute some of the most ambitious developments plans.
And the vision of the Administration has been turned into reality as some of the villages since been provided with piped water supply, electricity, ‘pucca’ roads, paved up streets, surface drains, flush-type toilets, multi-purpose buildings parks, dispensaries and government schools including sewerage facility. But despair for Faidan Nizampur village situated nearby Railway Track sector 48 B Chandigarh has not turned into hope.
According to the official of the Administration, 11 villages have been provided with health sub-centres, equipped with veterinary services, 18 government schools and sports stadias. Faidan Nazimpur village does not show any sign of Chandigarh Administration pro-active role in ensuring overall development which barely manage to survive despite surging economic growth around. In the dark shadow of land, a silent tragedy plays out to the village who are stilll far away from the basic amenities needed for quality life.
Kuldip Singh who is living in this village for past more than 50 years revealed that all over the village littered with waste made the life of our miserable. But to talk of basic amenities, even if one has to get electricity, he was told to purchase electrical wire his own and got the connection as far as from the electric line along with the railway line. Look of the village has completely disowned the claims of the Chandigarh Administration. The village has over 3000 population does not have any civic amenities. “Netas at the time of elections come and go but our life continues as usual, ” says Kuldip Singh.
Another villager pointed out towards a big covered ‘drain taking out waste water of city in large quanity. Under the overfly drain, people construct small dinzy spaces for living and ‘rent out these’ at Rs 1000 per month. “Even prisoners in jails are being provided more comfortable life than us, ” he said by taking a long sigh and pain was visible on his face. “Small children farm animals live side by side in a more miserable condition. Situation goes bad to worse during summer when there is no availability of water and electricity, ” said a woman.
Demolition of Colony number 5 and phase 10 colony it has witnessed a tremendous increase in population. Chandigarh enjoys ‘City Beautiful’ tag for better planned urban development. Undoubtedly the city has wide roads, abundant green patches, well planned residential sectors, public amenities; cyclist tracks etc.; however dumping of solid waste and untreated sewage around its periphery shows that the city performs poorly in managing its ruralite.
The story of its drain near Airport is an apt example showing that while city manages to get beautiful tag, the rivulets and lives of people of the village has turned miserable by increasing pollution load and other issues.
It looks like an unauthorized colony on the outskirt of Chandigarh. The growing settlement is covered by city from West and North sides, while the Airport area and Jagatpura village in Punjab seems restricting its expansion in east and south direction.
Some residents claim to be native villagers, while many others accept to have settled there over past one and half decade. The habitations is dotted with Kutcha roads, unpaved streets and precariously built cluster of houses.
Moreover, a 10 km long storm water drain known as Faidan Nala snakes through the area bisecting it into two halves. A temporary iron-mess bridge connects the both sides. Faidan Nala joins N Choe –another natural drainage meandering though the Chandigarh and Mohali- at Manuli village. N Choe also carries untreated waste water which is then discharges into Ghaggar river near Sarala Khurd village in Patiala district, the villagers tell that junk dealers, rag pickers bring the solid waste – mostly unused plastic items- there for segregation before sending them for recycling. Post segregation leftovers in huge amount are along the Faidan Pind drain heaps of solid waste can be seen piled up at any point of time. Locals pushed alongside slopes which then ultimately find its way into the Drain that presents most ugly face of the village.