'Tired of making presentations but not cleaned': 'Sewer line chokes up, no one pays attention'; Residents protest over filth in Ganj Bazaar

With just a few days left for the first historic election of the Nadiad Municipal Corporation, the political heat has intensified. In the midst of this situation, Divya Bhaskar's team reached Ward No. 2. Where he tried to know the mood of the voters. After the new delimitation, the ward includes important areas like St. Anna's High School, Kumbhar Chali, Prabhat Cinema, Ganj Bazaar and Mill Road, where a pile of problems is currently being seen. The problems of roads, water and drainage in the areas included in Ward No. 2 have worsened to such an extent that it has become difficult for the locals to live. Traders and consumers are facing a lot of trouble due to filth especially in commercial establishments like Ganj Bazaar. Locals allege that despite repeated representations to the administration, only assurances are received but no action is taken on the ground. 'One has to work 8 months of the year amidst this dirt and stench' Bipin Shah, president of the Ganj Bazaar Traders Association, said, "Our legs are tired of making representations and our mouths are hurt by speaking. There is such an empire of filth at the back of Ganj Bazaar that it is shameful to look there. For 8 months of the year, they have to work amidst this filth and stench, due to which the employees and traders here are frequently falling prey to diseases. Yogesh Patel, another trader, hit out at the administration and people's representatives, saying that it has been a year since the formation of the Nadiad Municipal Corporation and the authorities have also conducted a survey on traffic and cleanliness, but the results are zero. Councillors show awareness only when elections come, if they work continuously for five years, they will not have to work hard to seek votes during elections. There is no parking facility in Ganj Bazaar. So people park haphazardly. 'Proper arrangements for cleaning, parking should be made so that employment and business increase' Kaushal Maheshwari, a trader, said, "There is no proper cleaning in the Ganj market. Anand is moving ahead of Nadiad. Nadiad lacks basic amenities like drainage lines, drinking water and parking. Despite repeated complaints lodged in the system, no serious solution is taken, which is a matter of concern for the development of Nadiad. The only expectation of the traders is to clean up, proper parking arrangements should be made so that employment and business can increase. 'There is no fixed time for the garbage pick-up truck' Not only the traders but also the residents are in dire straits. Parveen Banu, a local housewife, said, "We need a candidate who can do a good job. The sewer line gets choked up, no one pays attention. The employees of the municipality do not come despite calling. In the end, we have to call private sanitation workers at home money. Rehanaben Gaikwad, another woman of the ward, questioned the waste disposal system and said that there is no fixed time for the vehicle to collect the garbage from door-to-door. Sometimes it comes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon, due to which filth spreads. Thus, there is a lot of anger among the people against the ruling party and the system on the issue of sewerage, water and sanitation in Ward No. 2.