Jaipur: Ahead of the municipal elections this week, residents of Gokulpura in Jhotwara zone’s ward 23 are sounding the alarm over years of neglect that have left them grappling with deteriorating road conditions, garbage mismanagement and precarious living situations, all of which have intensified during the monsoon season.One of the most pressing issues is access to the ward’s satellite hospital. Locals have complained that the road leading to the facility has remained in a state of disrepair for years. Potholes and outdated drainage systems make it nearly impossible for ambulances to reach the hospital, especially after rain. Asha Devi, a resident, recounted an incident involving a pregnant woman who had to be carried to the hospital on foot, wrapped in a blanket. “It was considered much safer than driving on a dark, waterlogged road full of potholes in the middle of the night,” she recalled.The problems extend beyond the hospital road. Residents are outraged by a waste depot managed by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC), which has become a dumping ground with garbage often strewn across the area. “Persistent foul odour fills the air, and the garbage spills onto the road,” said Abdul Kalam, a local. Heavy rains exacerbate the situation, transforming low-lying areas into waterlogging points, occasionally flooding the waste depot and spreading refuse onto adjacent streets.After repeated complaints to the former councillor and JMC officials, Gopal Joshi expressed frustration over the lack of improvements. “I even tried filling potholes with construction waste myself,” he said, but acknowledged that such efforts were merely temporary.In addition to these civic issues, residents within the slums endure even harsher realities. Shanti, who lives in one such settlement, said, “JDA officials visit, mark houses, take our numbers, and leave. Other than this, nothing happens.”Many families have faced displacement, leaving them clamouring for secure and permanent housing. Raju, a local, said families in the settlement have been displaced several times and are now seeking permanent and secure housing from the govt. Residents said they want clarity on their rehabilitation and a safe place to live rather than repeated displacement.
