In an inspection that exposed the rot festering under BJP’s watch in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Leader of Opposition in MCD House Ankush Narang conducted a ground review of Ward-55 in Shalimar Bagh on Friday. From filthy lanes in Gali No. 1 to neglected infrastructure at the Ayurvedic Hospital, MCD school, and local parks, Ankush Narang pulled up civic officials for the appalling state of public services. Accompanied by AAP Councillor Jalaj Chaudhary and MCD staff, Ankush Narang directed immediate redressal of long-ignored grievances raised by residents.
LoP in MCD House, Ankush Narang, conducted an inspection of the Shalimar Bagh ward along with AAP Councillor Jalaj Chaudhary. As part of the visit, they also inspected an MCD-run Ayurvedic hospital, where they interacted with local residents to understand their problems. Citizens expressed the need to restore greenery in parks, repair broken walls, and install railings.
Ankush Narang noted, “Despite the tall claims made by the BJP, the condition of civic amenities in Shalimar Bagh remains poor. It is ironic, he pointed out, that the ward falls under the constituency of Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, yet it suffers from multiple unresolved issues. Cleanliness is lacking, and several developmental works remain pending.”
Ankush Narang further stated that in Haiderpur, there is no water supply inside public toilets, and their condition is unhygienic. There is an urgent need to improve sanitation and provide basic amenities. AAP Councillors are doing their best to address all such issues. Despite this ward being located in CM Rekha Gupta’s constituency, she continues to neglect its development. In fact, he alleged, the CM deliberately sidelines this ward because it is represented by an AAP Councillor, even going so far as to try to undermine them.
Ankush Narang assured the public that all AAP Councillors are working at the grassroots level to ensure proper delivery of services through the MCD. Measures are also being put in place to prevent waterlogging during the upcoming monsoon. He categorically dismissed BJP’s so-called “mega cleanliness drive” as a mere show. There is no actual implementation of such a campaign anywhere in the city. Moreover, BJP excluded AAP Councillors from participating in the initiative. Out of the current 238 councillors, 113 belong to AAP and 8 to Congress. Yet, BJP kept all 121 opposition councillors out of the drive.
The LoP in the MCD House questioned whether Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh is a mayor for all of Delhi or merely a mayor for the BJP. Similarly, he questioned whether CM Rekha Gupta sees herself as the MLA only for the two BJP-held wards in Shalimar Bagh or for all three. Once elected as a councillor, MLA, Chief Minister or Mayor, one must function impartially and work for the development of the entire constituency without discrimination, he asserted.
Key shortcomings revealed during inspection:
MCD Ayurvedic Hospital (Panchkarma): There is a severe lack of cleanliness and duty staff. The hospital caters to 60 to 80 patients daily. The visiting team also interacted with patients to hear their concerns.
Local Parks: Streetlights in the park are non-functional, cleanliness is not maintained regularly, and the turf has been uprooted.
MCD School: There is a shortage of security personnel. The school principal and local residents have demanded that the boundary wall of the school be raised to 12 feet for safety.
Ekta Gali No. 1: Cleanliness is extremely poor, and garbage is piled up in the lanes.
Public Toilet at Haiderpur Shalimar Chowk: The toilet is broken and unusable. Local residents have requested that it be restored and reopened urgently.
