- By now, reams and reams have been written on how civic agencies consistently fail Indian citizens across the country, especially in some of the renowned Metro cities boasting humongous urban dwellings. Despite the economy growing exponentially over the decades on the back of liberalization and globalization measures leading to developmental activities kicking off, the commensurate amenities to ensure the flocking citizens to cities are adequately provisioned are sorely missing. The emphasis on strengthening the urban infrastructure is missing despite successive governments proclaiming assurances and promises galore. The substantive action to ensure basic amenities are in place is sadly grossly inadequate, failing to meet expectations.
PC: The Hindu
- This gets further accentuated during the monsoon season because unplanned urban infrastructure leads to the loss of precious lives and properties time and again. A recent heart-wrenching incident happened in the national capital. The deaths of three UPSC aspirants in the flooded basement of Delhi’s tuition center reaffirm how our municipal callousness continues unabated. Of course, the Delhi incident has quickly become cannon fodder for political parties. The din buries the reality of most metros and haphazardly expanding cities – the near-total lack of accountability, capability, and capacity of municipal bodies. Many incidents have been reported in recent times in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Rajkot, and Surat.
- Innocent people were electrocuted, getting drowned in a basement, a massive hoarding fell on the unsuspecting public, a woman and child got killed when accidentally stepping on a live wire abandoned on the pavement, a fire in a recreational facility killed people, and again fire killing youngsters in a coaching center are a few incidents that have caused significant heartburn among the countrymen. These are some of the most horrific accidents and fatalities. Also, there have been 43 deaths countrywide of the most marginalized, while cleaning sewers and septic tanks, between the two budgets this year, Feb to July. Counting manual scavenging deaths is relegated to NGOs. Countless accidents occur and injuries aren’t even considered. Little is on record.
PC: Times Of India
- For instance, ask any municipal body for records of several electrocution incidents pothole accidents, open-drain drownings, or waterlogging damage. Municipalities have four primary stakeholders – residents, service providers, businesses, and political class. Corruption at each intersection plays a huge role in norms being flouted. Inspections are fronts for graft. Personnel are neither trained nor paid adequately. Urban local bodies are strained for funds. Norms are observed only in exception. After serious accidents, engineers are sacked, arrests are made, and cases drag on for years. But how will the next accident be prevented? No one has any idea, because accountability within networks of urban local bodies is iffy. This apathy must change.
