Namkum Residents Demand Action as Civic Conditions Deteriorate Amid Neglect

Ranchi: Residents of Namkum in Ranchi are struggling with deteriorating civic conditions. From broken and potholed roads to defunct streetlights, lack of drainage and absence of regular garbage collection, the locality has turned into what locals describe as “a picture of neglect.”Accusing the authorities of ignoring their long-pending grievances, Anup Yadav of Raja Ulatu said, “The roads here are full of potholes. Walking or riding a bike after sunset is risky in the absence of streetlights. We often stumble in the dark.”Others complained that the drains constructed years ago have either collapsed or remain unfinished in several lanes, leaving sewage to flow on to the roads and emit a stench.Homemaker Sunita Devi added, “Water collects outside our houses during rain, leading to a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Authorities never visit this area.”Garbage disposal remains another pressing issue. With no door-to-door collection or designated dumping points, residents admit to discarding waste in open areas. “We are forced to throw garbage in an abandoned plot or into a nearby stream. It is not something we are proud of, but we have no option,” said Rama Shankar, a resident of Sidrol.Residents of Namkum have voiced anger over broken roads, defunct streetlights, collapsed drains and lack of garbage management, blaming years of administrative neglect. While parts of Namkum fall under the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), larger areas are under the Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA), both headed by commissioner Sushant Gaurav. Locals allege that this jurisdictional overlap has left their grievances unresolved. “We don’t know whom to approach anymore; we’ve tried all authorities,” said resident Manoj Prasad.Commissioner Gaurav clarified, “RRDA undertakes projects for which funds are sanctioned by the urban development department. Once an application is received from the public, estimates are prepared and requisitions sent.”