Noida: The arrival of the monsoon has once again exposed Noida’s long-neglected drainage infrastructure, with residents complaining that clogged drains and overflowing sewers have turned their areas into breeding grounds for mosquitoes, heightening the risk of dengue and malaria.“Those who promised us a hi-tech, gleaming city have vanished, leaving us to contend with severe waterlogging and increasing mosquito menace,” said Deepak Sharma, president of RWA Sector 105.With dengue cases already being reported, residents fear the situation will worsen without urgent intervention. Sharma demanded thorough desilting of primary and internal drains, along with regular fogging and anti-larval spraying to curb mosquito breeding.Since there was no response from Noida Authority, the RWA organised spraying in the sector’s internal drains and sewers on Wednesday, urging residents to keep their surroundings free from stagnant water. “We are asking residents to clean their coolers, flowerpots and rooftops regularly,” said Sharma.In Sector 108, RWA president Digamber Singh said annual drain-cleaning drives have not been comprehensive enough. He attributed the recurring overflows to blocked drains, poor gradients and obstructions that prevent rainwater from flowing into the external drainage network.According to him, earthen embankments are blocking an RCC drain outside the sector, and the required equipment that can deal with the problem has not been deployed despite repeated complaints.RWA general secretary of Sector 144, Bhagat Singh Tongad, said the area witnesses waterlogging every three to four days during the rains, disrupting traffic and making daily commutes difficult for residents. The situation is no better in Sector 19, where residents reported sewage backing up into internal sewer lines and even homes, blaming clogged drains and poor maintenance of the drainage network. “The foul smell makes the situation a living hell,” said RC Gupta, RWA president of Sector 19.Responding to the complaints, Noida Authority manager Rohit Kumar promised that the issues have been noted and appropriate action will be taken. However, the residents remain sceptical.
