Lucknow: No fogging, disinfection; LDA apartments feel lockdown blues

Pranchal Srivastava | TNN | Apr 21, 2020, 06:58 IST

As coronavirus spreads across India, it's time to mask up and stay safe (Image courtesy: maskindia.com)

LUCKNOW: Residents of several apartment blocks and colonies developed and managed by Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) are a harassed lot these days. Spraying of disinfectant and fogging as well as maintenance work is not being done regularly by authorities since the lockdown began.
According to norms, this should be done twice a week in all LDA housing apartments and colonies.
The problem is compounded by the fact that even resident welfare associations (RWAs) are not being able to do much because of the lockdown.
Sample this: More than 600 residents of Shipra Apartments in Gomtinagar complain that neither fogging nor sanitization work has been done by the development authority since April 9.
RWA secretary Sanjay Banerjee said, “Last time, they didn’t even enter the compound. Two sanitary workers came near the entrance and just sprayed the disinfectant for a few minutes and left.”
He also said that for the past three weeks, some flats were facing water supply problems due to the overhead tank, but there was no one to resolve it in the lockdown.
The situation was similar in Alaknanda Apartments where residents complain about lack of fogging resulting in mosquito menace.
RWAs of some housing colonies suggested that if the development authority is not able to conduct regular sanitization, it can at least provide people with spray machines and sodium hypochlorite at a cost so that they can do it on their own.
“We wouldn’t have to ask LDA even for providing us the material if the lockdown wasn’t imposed,” said Omkar Ahuja, a resident of Aashiana.
“Residents can register a complaint on the LDA portal. LDA will take action,” said LDA vice chairman Shiwa Kanth Dwivedi. He said that flats and houses facing water supply or any other maintenance issue can contact their zonal executive engineers. If they don’t respond, a complaint can be registered on the LDA portal, he said.
Regarding sanitisation, he said that LDA cannot sell machines or liquid disinfectant to the people directly.
“Residents can lodge complaints on our grievance redressal portal and stern action will be taken against the official responsible for laxity,” he added.