Delhi Lt Governor (LG) VK Saxena has expressed shock over the condition of unauthorised colonies in Burari and instructed officers to take immediate steps to ensure sanitation and cleanliness and ensure that the timelines informed to him about the completion of the projects are adhered to.

These instructions came after Saxena on Wednesday visited Burari,  that houses a population of nearly 20 Lakh in as many as 80 unauthorized colonies in North / North-East Delhi and took stock of the situation on ground, officials said here on Thursday.

Saxena, who has been receiving repeated requests from residents of different unauthorized colonies in the capital, to visit their areas and help them address the glaring lack of civic amenities had last visited Kirari on February 10. He will be further visiting such colonies.

Walking on foot on various stretches throughout the area, that comprises densely populated residential colonies like Sant Nagar, Nathu Pura, Burari village, Baba Colony, Laxmi Vihar, he was shocked at the lack of basic civic infrastructure and sanitation services that the people are entitled to, in natural course of governance, officials said.

The LG was informed that, pending since years, only 70% of the areas had been provided with sewage lines till now by DJB, and even in these, connections to households were yet to be done.

Similarly, out of the 80 colonies in the area, roads had been constructed only in 17 colonies.  Even as the main road from Outer Ring Road leading into the area had come up with showrooms of top brands in the country, the road itself was in a pathetic condition due to neglect and disrepair.

Apart from dust-filled streets, open drains — choked and overflowing — dotted entire stretch of colonies and garbage from the area was being disposed on the Yamuna floodplain itself, despite the Bhalaswa Landfill site being in close vicinity of the area.

Locals brought to the LG’s notice that the sewer lines, being laid on the main road, for years together now, had apparently not taken into account prospective needs of the area, owing to the fact that it was only of 1.5 meter dia, which was insufficient even to meet the existing drainage requirements.

Additionally, the delay in the laying of these lines, that entailed open excavated roads, had resulted in the persistent problem of traffic congestion, dust and C&D Waste pollution, apart from being a constant hazard for pedestrians and two-wheelers.

Even the supposedly “restored” water body in Burari village, that was shown to the LG, was filled with sludge and debris, with drains and sewage flowing into it.

The LG was visibly upset over the state of roads throughout his route, overflowing sewers, heaps of garbage, broken pavements and dividers in the area. He was anguished that such apathy on part of the government agencies had led to pitiable living conditions in one of the most densely populated areas of the city.

People of the area also complained about encroachment of roads by shopkeepers leading to traffic jams at peak hours and the lack of last mile connectivity and absence of DTC bus routes. It was apparent that no concrete efforts had been undertaken by the DJB and I&FC Department to address these issues.