bureaucracy dominated by a culture of improvisation ????
Unplanned and unsafe urban development, bureaucracy dominated by a culture of improvisation
The tragic death of engineer Yuvraj Mehta in Greater Noida has exposed unsafe urban development and bureaucratic negligence. He died after falling into a pit at a construction site and receiving no assistance from government agencies. The incident highlights the poor infrastructure, open sewers, and administrative negligence in cities, which pose a constant threat to citizens. The Chief Minister has ordered an investigation, but it underscores the need for systemic reforms.
….In a heartbreaking incident recently, the death of Yuvraj Mehta, a young engineer in Greater Noida, captured national attention. Yuvraj lost his life when, in foggy weather, his car, while making a 90-degree turn, broke through a barrier and fell into a water-filled pit dug for a basement. He called his father for help and pleaded with passersby. Shortly after, several government officials arrived, but due to a lack of resources and a reluctance to enter the cold water, they did not intervene to rescue him.
Ultimately, this young man died in front of his father and the people who came to rescue him. Neither the SDRF, the police, nor the fire brigade tried to save him. Seeing the reluctance of all these departments, a delivery boy jumped into the cold water to save Yuvraj, but by then it was too late. The anger over this incident is greater because those who should have made every possible effort to save the young man remained mute spectators. There is nothing worse than employees from many departments reaching the spot, but doing nothing to save a person trapped in distress.
Yuvraj Mehta’s death has shaken the Uttar Pradesh government. The Chief Minister has ordered an investigation into the incident. Whatever the outcome of this investigation, the lives lost will never be brought back. This incident has drawn attention to the circumstances that led to Yuvraj’s death, but no fundamental improvements are expected. The way Indian cities are developing and the way construction is carried out by both the government and private sectors is constantly fueling accidents.
Our average bureaucracy is dominated by a culture of improvisation. It has become adept at neglecting civic amenities and public safety measures and at covering up accidents that occur as a result. This leads to mounting civic inconveniences and frequent accidents. In Greater Noida, many areas are open and sewer water overflows, despite being known as one of the state’s most developed cities. Even in this city, no one is bothered to address the waterlogging on roadsides, overflowing sewer lines, and broken roads. Keep in mind that mosquitoes breed in such areas and filth accumulates, leading to disease.
Population pressure is steadily increasing in cities, both large and small, across the country. Government departments acquire land and give it to builders. As unauthorized and unplanned colonies continue to grow around such lands, haphazard development also occurs. Most such colonies initially lack accessible access roads, streetlights, proper sewage systems, and proper electricity connections. When people move into the completed buildings and multi-story buildings in these colonies, they face numerous problems, but neither the builders nor government departments step forward to address them.
Because demand for houses and flats is high, people are forced to live in underdeveloped areas. The road where Yuvraj Mehta died in Greater Noida was not a convenient one. The 90-degree angle on it made it a dangerous black spot, an accident-prone area. Complaints were made to the administration, but no one took action. This kind of administrative negligence is visible in all cities. As a result, people lose their lives, either by falling into open sewers or by getting injured on unsafe roads. Every accident is caused by government inaction or mismanagement. Another problem is that unplanned development is carried out in a shoddy manner.
Accidents continue to occur because of this, but no one takes any action. Sometimes a newly constructed building collapses, or sometimes a newly constructed road develops potholes. It’s common in cities that construction sites are often a risky area. The roads are poorly maintained, and deep potholes line their edges. Similarly, there’s no drainage system. There are no signs to alert people to such risky areas. Often, these dangerous areas are shrouded in darkness. No one knows when the bureaucratic inaction will end, and how long will people’s lives continue to be compromised?
On one hand, the Modi government is striving to make India a three trillion dollar economy and a developed nation by 2047, while on the other, our cities are crumbling, lacking civic amenities, and inadequate public safety measures. It’s surprising that urban development is failing to improve despite the growing population. This situation will only hinder the dream of a developed India. Development shouldn’t just be economic, but also safe and accessible. Whether it’s the bureaucracy, politicians, or the judiciary, everyone must take their responsibilities seriously.
People also need to show seriousness, because they too ignore rules. Being a developing country does not mean that the government machinery and the general public do not perform their responsibilities properly. Since government departments are not vigilant about following rules and regulations, people also violate them. The Greater Noida incident clearly shows the negligence of government officials towards the builders. Along with arresting the builders, some officials have been suspended, but it is doubtful that this will improve the situation. The chances of officials in other cities learning a lesson from this incident are also slim.
