Life is miserable here

The survival of humanity depends on the tolerance of people towards one another, but translating the phrase into action is quite a complex phenomenon.
Agree all the residents of SFS flats in Sector 7, Pocket-1, Dwarka, who in spite of shifting to the biggest sub-city of future are forced to ‘go rural’. The outcry of the residents is that the entire colony has been taken over by the villagers of Palam who reside at the back side of the SFS pocket.
The residents of this DDA pocket are mainly facing two problems.One is the non-completion of boundary wall and the other is of two dirty ponds at the back side of the pocket. The problem started because the DDA has left a gap of 25-30 feet in the boundary wall at the back side of the pocket through which the villagers have made a thorough passage. The land just behind the pocket is lying vacant. There is already a road adjacent to the complex which connects to the main road of Dwarka, but the villagers prefer the short cut through the DDA housing complex. According to RWA secretary R.C.P. Sinha, “Virtually, anarchy is prevalent in this area. The villagers made a kachcha road in December 2002 by leveling the area with the support of local politicians. When the bricks were dumped on this kachcha road, the RWA intervened and took a firm stand. Due to the politicians’ policy of appeasement towards certain vote banks the colony is at the mercy of villagers.�
The residents feel insecure in this pocket. There have been instances of theft in many houses. Breaking of car glasses and stealing of items inside the cars like stereos is quite cooomon here.
Says Asha Verma resident of flat no. 18-C, “The gang of urchins keep moving around in packs inside the complex. At times they pick up fights with our children. We feel unsafe to send our children to play in the park. The womenfolk of the village sit and gossip in the park which is inside the pocket. Cattle grazing in the complex too is common. We did not pay Rs 18 lakh — the cost of a flat in this area — for this kind of surroundings.�
The plight of those flat owners whose balconies face two dirty ponds is really pitiable. These ponds, besides emitting foul and unbearable smell have become a dumping ground for garbage and an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes. What is infuriating is that these ponds are man made.
Says Anil Jayant, resident of 11-D, “These have been dug up by the DDA contractor. He had removed soil from these spots to construct a water tank nearby. The RWA had informed the DDA officials when the digging was going on but no action was taken to prevent it.� His wife Anjali adds, “Enjoying a morning cup of tea in the balcony is out of question. The villagers and jhuggi dwellers use the pond as open air toilet. If we object, they abuse and even throw stones at us and our homes. Stray dogs pick up garbage from the ponds and scatter them in the complex.�
Sinha informs, “We have put up a representation before the DDA vice-chairman as well as the chief engineer of Dwarka, S.P. Rastogi. The then vice-chairman, Anil Baijal, had informed that a screening committee had been constituted and due action was to be taken upon the observations of the committee.�
Until then the residents of DDA flats Sector-7 Pocket-1 will continue to live in this chaotic environment.