Ten News ‘Chai-Pe-Charcha’: Citizen Issues, MLA’s Assurance & SP(Traffic)’s Round Table – A Step Forward Towards A Better City

Report by- Ashish Kedia

Pics/Video – Rohit Sharma

Noida : Ten News today organized an informal public discussion of TEN NEWS WhatsApp group members in Kailash Auditorium of Noida. Noida MLA Pankaj Singh and SP (Traffic) Anil Jha attended the event.

People from different walks of life and different parts of Noida participated in this meet-up followed by conversation in which different problems were briefly raised.

Noida MLA Pankaj Singh later replied to different queries of the people, noted them down and in his address also gave assurances for early resolution.

He said, “Uttar Pradesh Government is completely committed to resolve the problems of citizens and I am continuously working towards it. On buyers issue I have given detailed representation to UP CM Yogi Adityanath in this regard and he has also issued order”.

On bureaucratic concerns regarding Noida authority officials raised by many he said that different people may have different style of working but I want to assure all that citizen concern is the top most priority of this government and there shall be no-compromise towards it.

Issues Raised By Noida Residents:

Noida resident Sachin said,“Lack of a system, particularly unwillingness of Noida Authority. There is no time-frame for resolution of issues. There needs to be coordination between people & Noida authority”.

Sushil Jain, President Sector-18 Market Association said. “Sector-18 is well known as heart of Noida. Yet after giving everything in written & despite repeated meetings nothing has materialized. Multi-level parking was first to be completed yet it has been delayed for record times. Also under-construction market is giving hard time to retailers and businesspersons of sector-18 market are facing heavy losses due to it”.

Amit Gupta said, “Sector-61 underpass is pending for last two years. Authority is too much dependent on contractors & this nexus delay projects and results in heavy loss of revenue for taxpayers”.

 

Vimal Sharma, Sector-50, RWA President said, “All sectors of Noida are facing major problems of sewage, garbage, parking etc. Current officials of Noida authority are much unconnected with residents. Top officials seldom visit sectors and there is complete lack of coordination between RWA’s and Noida Authority. Also if possible slum-clusters can have toilets build by MLA fund. Authority must keep RWA’s in loop regarding contractors who have maintenance of parks so that RWA’s can also keep a tab on the same”.

Anju Pachauri said,” Contracts must be time-bound & there must be a clause to penalize the contractors for in-ordinate delays. There is no-accountability in Noida authority. Same needs to be changed with a change in policy and norms”.

Col (Retd.) P.Chandra said, “Bureaucracy does not want to work. Citizens have their own limits. There is a continuous attempt by the officials to tire-out citizens. We have faith in our chosen public-representative. Political-class should take initiatives to revamp the bureaucratic structure of Noida”.

On builder-buyer issue he further added, “There seems to be a nexus between Noida Authority & builder. Builders use new techniques to dupe consumers or to get more money out of them. Authority has legal rights to take necessary action, yet it is never done. Promise of Noida Authority or its planning department is never fulfilled. Noida Authority needs to have some accountability”.

A.S Arya raised issue of street light and said, “Noida Authority has no products for repairing street lights. The inventory is in bad shape. RWA’s have to purchase products themselves & give it to authority contractors for repairing”

Kartik Kunj resident said, “There are problems regarding illegal encroachment & emplty plots are being used as Garbage dump. Noida authority should take action on it”.

Anuj Jain said, “Noida Authority vehicles themselves breach one ways at most such places. The problem is most prominent at Udyog Marg & Sector-5 precisely Suhani furniture onwards. Encroachment on sector-5 road also requires a removal drive. There needs to be an accountability of contractors who are responsible for garbage-treatment at such spots. All lanes should have a representative who must approve daily work”.

He further added, “A forum like “Udyog bandhu” must be created for residential body which shall presided by DM and MLA. Also, Noida Authority does not have an efficient e-grievance resolution portal. Complaints go repeatedly but are never responded to. Hence we should have a mechanism where repeated complaints of same nature are escalated to the higher level after a certain time frame. Another thing is that slum cluster of Sector-8 C block is becoming hub of crime. Law enforcement authorities must take necessary action to avoid any untoward incident”.

Anita Singh who runs a business in Sector-18 market raised the issue of water-logging in the market, she said, “Rain water gets inside shops and does much harm. Also parking is a major problem in the sector. Necessary attention is required in this regard”.

Sukhdev Sharma raised questions about traffic problems of the city. He said, “Traffic is a big problem for all Noida residents. The traffic lights don’t work; traffic police personnel are stationed at various crossings are not very active. Reckless autos are not penalized. Repeat offenders aren’t dealt with strictly. Necessary measures are required in this regard”.

SP (Traffic) Anil Jha leads round table discussions:

In the later part of the “Chai-Pe-Charcha” get-together, the stage and audience merged into one and formed a round table forum to discuss Noida issues. SP(Traffic) Anil Jha lead the discussion and spoke at lengths about Noida’s growing problems such as high rise building, more occupants, increasing numbers of cars, limited road capacity and challenges of regulating traffic in this changing landscape.

Resident from different part of the city who are connected on Ten News whatsapp group platform also brainstormed over lack of feasibility in urban planning of Noida and how certain high rises in the sector-16, 18 and adjoining areas may create a very-troublesome situation in near future.

Citizens also praised the clarity, efficiency and straightforwardness of SP (Traffic) Anil Jha and hoped that in his able guidance many issues pertaining to Noida will soon be resolved.

The Hero in Absence:

Demands were made to both SP (Traffic) Anil Jha and MLA Pankaj Singh to reward the very active, proficient and citizen-friendly Traffic Inspector Layak Singh. Different organizations are also mulling over awarding him with a citizen award for his continuous efforts to regulate Noida traffic.

However TI Layak Singh couldn’t attend the Ten News Chai Pe Charcha event because of being on leave on the day.