Chandigarh, June 13

Residents from several parts of the city have complained of telecommunication companies leaving the roadside area outside their houses dug up. They allege that the firms fail to the level and repair the patch after their work is done.

Rain compounds the problem as water accumulates in these pits, posing a risk to road users. The residents rue that these pits have becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. Besides, these present an ugly picture of the so-called smart city. At some places, horticulture waste and garbage can be seen stuck inside the pits.

Advocate Divyanshu Jain, a resident of Sector 21, said, “We submitted a complaint to the local councillor, but nothing happened and the situation is still the same. It is a big problem in our neighbourhood, but nobody bothers. The Municipal Corporation has failed to do its bit.”

In a random check, it was found that several sectors, including 44, 8, 21 and 18, are bearing the brunt of the “apathy” of the firms. “Telecommunication companies dig up the area for laying cables without informing owners of houses outside which the work is carried out. There is no deadline for the completion of the work, leaving the residents in the lurch,” said Rakesh Kumar, a Sector 8 resident. The MC, which has to restore the area, does not seem to be doing enough. MC Chief Engineer Shailender Singh said, “We restore the area once the work is completed.” — TNS