Open defecation rampant on Sec 68 land

Chandigarh: A huge land owned by Gmada in Sector 68, Mohali has become a spot for

open defecation

and breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The said land is situated along the main road at a distance of barely 100 metre from the municipal corporation building.

The residents alleged that the land has sporadic wild growth all over it, while the authorities have not cared to remove them for a long time resulting in multiple troubles for them.

Sneha Purohit, a resident, said, “Mohali is certainly one of the fast emerging cities in the country and such an eye sore close to residential areas and MC office is condemnable.”

The house owners wake up to people defecating in the area, which not only spread a foul smell, but leave them prone to severe diseases. Armaan Singh, a resident, said, “It is pitiable that such mess has been created on a land owned by a government agencies, and no action is being taken to improve the condition of the area, next to the main road which has traffic all day.”

Another resident, Jujhar Singh, said, “The authorities must plan to put it to some better use, instead of leaving it open to all kinds of waste disposal making it a house of diseases. The land must be wired immediately so that people don’t defecate here which is a harrowing experience for the residents and the commuters too.”

The vacant land is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, as a huge pond has been formed here after water stagnated during the monsoons. Cattle too sitting around the place and defecate on the interior roads of the residential colonies, which rots there for days.

Jagtar Singh, a resident, said, “This piece of land has caused so much trouble yet the administration is unfazed about it. The water that has accumulated there breeds mosquitoes in huge number aggravating the risks of people falling prey to vector-borne diseases.”

Residents further complained that the space is also being utilised by the addicts at night to consume drugs and liquor. Prabhakar Singh, a resident, said, “I have seen it several times, people in groups consuming liquor and drugs, often indulging in brawls.”

K S Sidhu, a retired IAS officer who is also a resident said, “Its time that the authorities should work for the interest of the residents and get the mess removed at the earliest. These problems arise as the supervision on part of the officials is compromised. If the monitoring of the issues is done properly, such problems can never arise.”

Since the wild growth has spread all around the footpath of the main road, people, especially women, have stopped walking during the evening fearing crimes like chain snatching to take place.