UP: Vote hopes may run into garbage wall in Cantonment

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Cantonment assembly constituency is a picture of contrast. While the army areas are clean and green, civilian pockets are stinking hellholes. In the runup to the October 21 bypoll , TOI highlights the simmering resentment that the new MLA may need to address.

Sadar Bazaar:

Despite proximity to the army colony, squalor is a salient feature of Sadar Bazaar, Topkhana and Dilkusha Colony. The areas face sanitation worker crisis. A solid waste treatment plant, set up on Sultanpur Road in June, is yet to become operational. “Garbage overflows and the stink makes your stomach churn,” said Sunil Kumar. At Topkhana and Dilkusha Marg, there are no dustbins. Himanshu Singh said, “We live amid filth, but MLAs never visit us after winning elections.”

LDA Colony & Aashiana:

Door-to-door garbage collection is so shoddy in LDA Colony that residents hire private workers. Avinash Singh of Sector D said they were doing the job of elected representatives. In Aashiana, vacant plots have turned into garbage dumps and drains have not been cleaned for months, said Sector K resident Manmeet Saluja.

Alambagh & Krishnanagar: With no sanitation workers, garbage is dumped anywhere and everywhere here. “We are aware of diseases. But, what choice do we have?” said Shubhangi Singh. In Alambagh, civic workers come once in 10 days. “We walk long distances in search of dustbins,” said Karan Lakhmani. Old City: Residents of Aishbagh Mill Road said complaints fall on deaf ears. “MLAs never show up between elections. The corporator sends workers to clean drains, but no permanent measure is taken,” said Deepika Choudhary. At Naka Hindola, Harshmeet Singh said children couldn’t play because of garbage and many wore masks.