Rain exposes Bilaspur’s smart city claims

 

 

Bilaspur’s lofty claims of being a smart city drowned under the fury of incessant rains on Tuesday evening, as major stretches from Sarkanda to Abhishek Vihar turned into sprawling water bodies. What was projected as modern infrastructure now lies exposed, with clogged drains and collapsed outlets forcing residents indoors. Streets, houses and market fronts remain under murky water, leaving citizens marooned in their own neighbourhoods. The worst-hit remains Sarkanda locality in Bilaspur Assembly constituency, where large pockets have been submerged.

 

Lanes and homes were inundated, forcing families to spend the night scooping water out with buckets. Residents openly accused the municipal corporation of negligence, alleging that their repeated complaints fell on deaf ears. “We spent the entire night draining water ourselves. No help arrived. Every year the same ordeal, but the corporation only works on paper,” a local resident said. In Abhishek Vihar Colony, Ward No. 14, the crisis deepened as floodwater entered living rooms. Families were left stranded, with household goods damaged and children forced to perch on elevated spaces. Angry residents slammed their councillor for remaining inactive despite repeated appeals. “We lodged complaints several times, but no measures were taken. Now the colony looks like a lake,” remarked a housewife, pointing to waterlogged interiors. Parents expressed anguish over the safety of school-going children.

 

“Dropping kids to school is like venturing into a hazard. The streets have become ponds. If an accident occurs, who will take responsibility?”, questioned a group of guardians. Local youths, too, voiced their anger at the state of affairs. “Crores have been spent in the name of Smart City, but conditions are worse than before. This is not smart infrastructure-it is a sinking city,” said an youngster. Public resentment is mounting, with citizens warning of collective protests if drainage systems are not urgently repaired. Their demand is simple: accountability and preventive action. “Every monsoon the same chaos unfolds. Why does the administration wake up only after disaster strikes?” asked residents, highlighting the widening gap between lofty promises and ground realities.