The Forgotten Fringe of Swanky South

SPARKLING roads, manicured sidewalks, and seamless drainage has come to define the posh pockets of South Delhi; however, only a few kilometers away, localities like Shaheen Bagh, Batla House, Tikona Park, and the 40 Futa Road in Jamia Nagar area are drowning under civic apathy despite being adjacent to Jamia Millia Islamia, a central university.

- IFRAH MUFTI @ New Delhi

Here, overflowing drains hold little water as they choke under mounting piles of garbage; potholes are all too common, and encroachment disrupts daily commute where ever one looks, signs of civic neglect lay bare.

Navigating Abul Fazal Enclave, a lifeline in southeast Delhi, has become an everyday challenge for residents, not merely because of the traffic congestion, but due to an open, overflowing drain that cuts right across their lanes and lives. Devoid of covers or a footbridge, entering their lanes has become a 'balancing act' for locals as they step over makeshift wooden or metal planks - fragile and slippery which may pose several risks, especially for the young and elderly.

The situation worsens as 'fresh waste' from nearby meat shops, vegetable vendors, and automobile repair units is regularly dumped into the drain, turning it into a toxic stream of filth. A basic civic necessity clean and covered drainage would be considered a rare miracle in these parts, one of Delhi's most densely-populated neighborhoods, Okhla.

The concerned residents of the Shaheen Bagh have written to the authorities on several occasions, but to little effect.