Akshay Gupta, a Gurgaon based consultant with the Big 4, says that India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ is washed away by monsoon, year after year. His views:
In the last 10 years, we have seen a phenomenal growth in the NCR region in terms of economy and infrastructure giving it a noticeable presence in the world as IT hub. However, we are still struggling with basic amenities in the region which take a toll on the people living and commuting within the NCR circle.
From the extreme summer temperature of nearly 50 degree Celsius, when we welcome the monsoon, we struggle to keep the city running as it comes to a grinding halt due to lack of preparedness in terms of desilting and drainage.
This issue has been plaguing NCR for years now and every season we fail to prepare well and ahead of the monsoon season to manage this very basic problem. In recent years, we have seen water logging has impacted lives to the extreme i.e. loss of life, property, well-being, daily commuting and much more. We feel proud to be staying in the Capital and a millennium city but can we actually see it at par with cities like NYC, Tokyo, et al? The answer is NO.
During the rainy season, everyone talks about the problems they face, post on social media; talk to their known across the globe and in embarrassment express the sorry state of the city. We have a large number of people from all classes of society who commute within the NCR every day.
Forget about heavy rains, even during short spells of rain people are afraid to step out as they fear getting stranded with vehicles stuck in water due to instant waterlogging; a scene which we have continuously witnessed year after year.
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Recently, we even witnessed newly constructed infrastructure crumbling – T1 Airport and people losing their lives. Isn’t it big enough reason to act now? Drains open up and drown people during waterlogging. Such deaths due to negligence on part of the government have been a regular feature.
People have stayed back in offices and forced to sleep there. The slush and drain water comes onto the roads bringing diseases. It’s a one big vicious circle of dirt, disease and death. But the point is that the common man alone suffers. And that is why there has been no action on this uncalled for nuisance.
Our government talks about building the nation and taking the economy to heights we haven’t ever seen but every citizen should first be able to enjoy the basics of living in a capital city. Hence, it’s time that the government takes cognizance of this serious issue. We are witnessing huge investments in the region to build infrastructure – world class roads, offices, residential complex, malls etc. but where is point of new infrastructure when you can’t maintain the existing ones?
There has to be a conscious effort and investment which has to be put in to fix this problem from the root. Moreover, investors who are putting in their money in building the region need to question the authorities as there are big promises but hardly anything has been given in terms of amenities.
While we are certainly doing great as an economy and are on a track to build a progressing nation but leaders of the state should ask themselves that isn’t it most important that citizens should feel safe and happy living in the country while we enjoy the journey to build a developed nation?
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As told to Deepa Gupta