NOIDA: The ongoing work of laying new sewer lines has drastically changed the experience of going to
Sector 18 market. The work, which began about a month ago, has led to pits being dug across the sector.
Traders say the dug-up roads have affected
footfall in the sector, apart from the open smelling drains being a free breeding ground for mosquitoes in this
monsoon season. Visitors to the market also blame the authorities for what they claim is a “go slow” approach towards repairing the stretch.
“We are facing acute problems in Sector 18 since about a month when work on new sewer lines began. The entry to the sector is blocked from Sector 18 metro side, while the entire market area is dug up in pits, open manholes and stagnant, foul smelling water retained in them. These have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said SK Jain, president of Sector 18 market association.
“The Noida Authority has not bothered to take any precautions on covering the debris or open water drains or barricaded the area dug up,” he added.
Deepali Singh, a regular visitor to Sector 18 market, said she has stopped visiting it. “I used to visit Sector 18 market quite regularly as it’s close to my home and caters to my routine shopping of groceries, shoes and clothes etc. But I’ve stopped going there since the digging started,” she said.
“Even the shops have become unapproachable with dug up pavements and muck everywhere,” said Singh, a resident of Sector 19.
When contacted, SC Arora, deputy
general manager (jal and sewer), Noida Authority, told TOI that work is being expedited in the sector. “We will hand over the road from GIP mall stretch to Sector 18 metro station side to civil works department by September 15 for laying of the road. The entire completion of work in Sector 18 will be done by the end of November,” he added.
New sewage lines are being laid in Sector 18
