Nagpurians Face Civic Issues Due to Absence of Elected Representatives: Nagpur: The absence of an elected Nagapur Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body has left citizens frustrated as grievances related to.
Nagpurians Face Civic Issues Due to Absence of Elected Representatives:
Nagpur: The absence of an elected Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body has left citizens frustrated, as grievances related to water supply, road repairs, and sanitation continue to mount. Residents argue that without corporators, there is no direct point of contact for resolving local issues. Many believe that the current system has led to unchecked power, delays in Addressing civic problems, lack of financial transparency and accountability, further worsening the city`s infrastructure and public services.
Nagpurians’ overlapping responsibilities among agencies like Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the state Public Works Department (PWD), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) make it unclear where to lodge complaints about potholes on city roads.
The Roadmark Foundation, a local NGO, recently launched an initiative to repair hazardous potholes and black spots across Nagpur, a move that gained traction following a TOI report exposing the dire state of city roads. The campaign received a boost from a good samaritan who offered to repair potholes free of cost.
In Nagpur, one of the turning points for the foundation was a road accident involving commuters at the infamous Narendra Nagar RuB, a site known for waterlogging and poor lighting. On January 2, Kanchan Nampalliwar fell victim to an unmarked pothole under the poorly lit bridge. She suffered server injuries, including a broken leg and lost tooth, narrowly escaping a collision with a heavy vehicle. This incident prompted Nampalliwar to approach the foundation to prevent similar tragedies.
responding to the news published in TOI on January 12, businessman Govind Bajaj, who owns a construction materials company, partnered with the NGO to repair the other on January 19. Bajaj provided asphalt and a unique pre-mix product that can be directly poured into potholes and levelled with a specialised machine offered entirely free of cost.
“We saw the NGO`s effort to improve road conditions and felt compelled to contribute. This initiative aligns with our company`s mission to support public welfare. We will continue assisting the foundation in its future projects, “said Bajaj.
Former Corporator Kamlesh Chaudhary criticised the NMC`s functioning under the administrator, calling it unsatisfactory. He pointed out that, unlike an elected general body that ensures accountability, the current setup allows the administration to function without direct oversight.
“An administrator serves for a limited term, whereas local representatives, being rooted in the community, have a deeper understanding of people`s issues, even if driven by political ambitions,” said Chaudhary. He also raised concerns over unregulated decision-making and financial opacity, emphasising that with no elected body in place, the NMC ( Nagpur Municipal Corporation ) remains answerable to no one.
Echoing these sentiments, Rajesh Mahakalkar, a Sanskrit Teacher and city resident, voiced frustration over the rising civic issues. Water supply problems, road repairs, and even crime rates are increasing, but there`s no one to turn to. Earlier, corporators were accessible and quick to act on complaints.
Now, with just one administrator handling everything, where do we go with our day-to-day problems?” He questioned. Another resident, Asha Baghel, pointed out that the absence of corporators has created a vacuum in people`s representation. She suggested that grievance redressal centres should have been set up to ensure a fair and systematic resolution of public issues in the absence of elected officials.
No NMC Elected Body Civic Complaints Soar 195%
The absence of a general body of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) since March 2022 has led to a sharp rise in citizen grievances, with complaints related to civic amenities nearly tripling. NMC received 6,505 complaints in 2023-24 which soared to 19.217 in the current financial year- a staggering 195% increase.
The surge highlights growing public dissatisfaction with deteriorating municipal service, including road maintenance, drainage, and waste management.
Although NMC claimed that it resolved over 90% of complaints, civic amenities deteriorated in the number of grievances rising to 19,217. Garbage management worsened, with complaints related to non-lifting of waste touching 6,572 from April 1 to January 28. At the other end of the spectrum, Satranjipura Zone, Gaandhibagh Zone, and Lakadganj Zone reported the least number of complaints.