Ranchi: Residents of New Nagar Colony in Ranchi’s Ward No. 6 are facing a host of issues such as severe waterlogging, poor waste management, safety concerns due to anti-social elements, and a potential hazard from a low-lying transformer near a temple.Poor drainage due to land encroachment have led to severe waterlogging in the area. The situation turns alarming during the monsoon season, with water levels rising three to four feet above ground in some areas. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had to be deployed for rescue operations here in the past two years. Several roads in the ward remain submerged during the monsoon. A resident, Mithlesh Kumar Sinha, said, “Waterlogging during the monsoon is relentless near Shiv Ram Mandir in Bandhgadhi due to the lack of proper drainage outlets.”Anil Kumar Goswami, a resident of Jai Prakash Nagar, added, “Waterlogging is a constant problem here, but the situation worsens when water from household soak pits overflows and mixes with the stagnant water.”Waste disposal is another major concern for residents. They said the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) vans rarely visit the locality for garbage collection. As a result, a dried-up local pond in the Bandhgadhi area has turned into a dumping ground. Several vacant plots are also being used for waste disposal.Awadesh Singh, a local resident, said, “Since there is no regular waste collection by the RMC, I have to walk nearly two kilometres to dispose of my household garbage. There is an urgent need for a municipal dustbin in this area.”Parts of the ward also witness gatherings of anti-social elements every evening, making it unsafe for residents, especially women, to step out after dark. Vineeta Devi from the Chhuna Bhatti area said, “Drug users and anti-social elements gather near the government school. We are afraid to step out after sunset. Whenever the police arrive after receiving information, the miscreants disperse, only to return the next day.” Residents also expressed concern over a potential hazard posed by a power transformer installed at a low height, barely 10 feet from a Shiv temple. Sunil Kumar, a local resident, said, “Thousands of devotees gather here during Shivratri. About a dozen of us stand around the transformer to prevent anyone from going near it. It should be relocated immediately.”
