Jaipur’s Adarsh Nagar Zone, a stark contradiction is playing out between official claims of urban cleanliness and the harsh realities of life for over 150 families in Ward 97’s Teela No. 1. With drains overflowing and sewage pooling across narrow alleys, residents here navigate daily life through waterlogged lanes that reek of stagnation, a scenario that exposes glaring gaps in urban governance and sanitation infrastructure.
As another monsoon season approaches, the stench has become more than a discomfort—it has become a symbol of sustained civic apathy. The settlement, primarily home to economically disadvantaged families, has long borne the brunt of poor drainage planning and negligible maintenance. While the Jaipur Municipal Corporation–Heritage (JMC-H) projects an image of progress and cleanliness, this pocket of the city seems to have been left behind. Residents live with ankle-deep sewage water and regular flooding from an adjacent drain that remains choked and unattended. These unsanitary conditions have triggered frequent outbreaks of waterborne illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly, intensifying the demand for immediate redressal.
Local representation has failed to yield tangible outcomes. The elected councillor of Ward 97, visibly exasperated, recounts how even repeated complaints to top civic officials, including the mayor, have gone unanswered. According to her, during the last monsoon, conditions became so dire that families were temporarily evacuated to the nearby Ambedkar Bhavan for shelter. Promises made by district officials during visits that year have since evaporated, much like the accountability required to prevent the problem from recurring. Meanwhile, she alleges that bureaucratic red tape and inter-departmental blame-shifting have become the norm.
In stark contrast to on-ground conditions, civic officials from the Adarsh Nagar Zone continue to insist that sanitation is being maintained satisfactorily. The Chief Sanitation Inspector (CSI), when confronted with images of flooded lanes and stagnant filth, denied any knowledge of the issue. He maintained that compared to other wards, Ward 97 is better managed. The zone’s deputy commissioner echoed similar disbelief, asserting that no formal complaint had reached his desk. These denials, however, appear increasingly detached from the lived experience of the residents.
Slum dwellers express anguish and helplessness. One resident shared that living in such unsanitary conditions has stripped them of dignity. “If we had the money, we would have left this place long ago. We breathe in the stench every day and struggle to protect our children from falling sick,” he said. Their appeals reflect not just frustration but a quiet desperation, rooted in the belief that the system has turned a blind eye to their plight.
At a time when Indian cities are aspiring to become models of sustainability, inclusivity and cleanliness under flagship initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Smart Cities Mission, the neglect of Teela No. 1 is not merely an oversight—it is a glaring contradiction. For cities to truly become eco-friendly and equitable, sanitation must extend beyond urban cores and into the vulnerable fringes. Until that is realised, the promise of zero net carbon and resilient urban futures will remain incomplete, especially for the marginalised whose voices continue to be muffled by the din of civic inaction.
Jaipur Slum Struggles With Daily Sewage Flood
