‘Don’t We Deserve Higher?’ Rubbish, Open Drains Elevate A Stink In Delhi CM’s Constituency Kalkaji – News18
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Locals additionally complained of damaged roads, site visitors nuisance, and a normal lack of sanitation within the space
Rubbish is strewn throughout Kalicharan Camp and Gandhi Camp in Kalkaji. (Nivedita Singh/News18)
Kalicharan Camp and Gandhi Camp in Kalkaji are simply 10 kilometres away from India Gate, which receives particular consideration the 12 months round to maintain it spotless. For these dwelling in these colonies, pothole-free roads, blooming flower beds and streets with out rubbish might as effectively be scenes from a unique metropolis altogether.
On a go to to the Kalkaji meeting seat, the constituency that elected outgoing chief minister Atishi in 2020, News18 went to those two camps to know the scenario on floor. For the 2025 elections, Atishi is once more contesting from the seat, aiming for a second time period.
In Gandhi camp, not solely the streets however the premises of presidency buildings, together with the Basti Vikas Kendra of Delhi City Shelter Enchancment Board (DUSIB), have been strewn with rubbish. The premises of a public bathroom within the camp have been additionally stuffed with rubbish.
The locals claimed that rubbish was by no means picked up from the internal lanes. Additionally, the drains are open in most elements of those camps, which places lives in danger.
“The rubbish is picked up from the principle street occasionally. However there is no such thing as a association for the internal lanes,” mentioned Saira Alam.
Her aged neighbour, Fatima, mentioned the drains weren’t coated within the locality, posing a threat for kids taking part in outdoors.
“We don’t have area in our houses. No matter open area is accessible is become a dumping zone that’s by no means cleared. The drains are open and our youngsters need to mess around it. Don’t we deserve a greater life?” she requested.
For Imran, one other native, the locality is in a foul form as a result of individuals are not making an attempt to enhance.
“Nobody is dumping the rubbish right here apart from the locals. It isn’t that that is coming from somebody from the surface. The locals are usually not doing something to make sure that the roads and areas round it are clear and garbage-free,” he mentioned.
The scenario was no higher in Kalicharan camp, with open drains and rubbish on roads. In between the 2 camps is the Okhla fruit and vegetable market and the Okhla Railway station in Sriniwaspuri. The roads round these colonies have been damaged and roadside areas have been stuffed with rubbish.
These two colonies, nevertheless, don’t paint the complete image of Kalkaji because the seat additionally covers among the poshest areas of Delhi, together with East of Kailash, Maharani Bagh, New Associates Colony, and Kalkaji.
On the opposite aspect of Captain Gaur Marg is Sant Nagar in East of Kailash. The homes across the Raja Dhirsain Marg in Sant Nagar belong to center and upper-middle class households. Regardless that sanitation isn’t a significant subject within the lanes, it’s not uncommon to identify rubbish on roadsides, empty plots and dividers.
For the folks of this space, site visitors is a much bigger nuisance. Within the lanes, there’s hardly any area to maneuver a automotive as either side are encroached with unauthorised parking.
“Final 12 months, my father fell and needed to be taken to a hospital. There was no approach an ambulance may come until our home. We needed to carry him until the principle street. These are all homes of wealthy folks with large automobiles however everybody parks their automotive on the street, leaving hardly any area,” mentioned 40-year-old Surya Pandey.
The roads in main elements of Kalkaji face problems with encroachment and unlawful parking.
Can Atishi Repeat 2020?
Kalkaji meeting, part of South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, falls beneath the South East district and has 1.94 lakh voters — 1.06 lakh males and 87,617 ladies.
In 2015, AAP’s Avtar Singh received from the seat and was changed by Atishi in 2020, giving a marginal enhance within the celebration’s vote share.
Between 1998 and 2008, Congress chief Subhash Chopra had bagged the seat. Nonetheless, the celebration couldn’t handle to win once more after that.
This time, the celebration has trusted Alka Lamba from the seat. Lamba, who was an AAP MLA from Chandni Chowk in 2015, mentioned folks have been compelled to dwell with out primary facilities and have been troubled by each AAP and BJP.
“On February 5, voters from all of the lessons in Kalkaji will vote for the Congress… This time, the voters won’t fall for the lies of AAP and BJP however on the ensures of Congress,” Lamba mentioned, including that individuals are uninterested in damaged roads and overflowing sewage within the constituency and that folks have realised voting for Congress is the best way ahead.
BJP’s two-time MP from South Delhi Ramesh Bidhuri is contesting in opposition to the 2 ladies. He mentioned the AAP has turned Kalkaji meeting into a grimy place.
“The folks of Kalkaji meeting constituency are fed up with corruption, false guarantees and unhealthy governance. They’re now prepared for change… With everybody’s cooperation and help, a double engine BJP authorities is being shaped in Delhi on February 8,” he mentioned.
Atishi mentioned folks ought to vote for AAP as voting from Congress or BJP would imply losing votes.
“There are two different candidates within the fray. The Congress candidate has no relevance in Delhi, and voting for them is equal to losing your vote. As for the BJP candidate, he’s not worthy of votes. At any time when he speaks, he abuses,” she mentioned.
In 2020, Atishi secured 55,897 votes – 52.28 per cent of the full. The final time the BJP received from Kalkaji was in 1993 when Purnima Sethi was elected as an MLA.
A complete of 13 candidates are contesting from the seat, together with Bahujan Samaj Celebration’s Pritam Singh and 4 impartial candidates.
The destiny of those candidates will probably be sealed by the voters in Kalkaji on February 5 and the outcomes will probably be out on February 8.
