Amidst the rain and waterlogging problem in Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh, such a picture of protest emerged from Babupurwa, which caught the attention of the people. Angered by the poor condition of Bhikam Singh Park, Ward-105 councilor Meraj himself lay down in the dirty water. The councilor protested against the officials on the spot and said that he will not move from here until action is taken towards solving the problem. The councilor alleges that the park has been facing the problem of waterlogging and dirt for a long time. The situation has worsened after the rain. The dirty water accumulated in the park is causing trouble for the local people.
Lying in the water, the councilor said – no more complaints, protest on the spot
Zone 3 Ward 105 Councilor Meraj says that he has complained to the relevant authorities several times about the problems at Bhikam Singh Park. He even submitted letters to the officials, but despite this, the situation has not changed significantly. The councilor says that when the problem remained unresolved despite repeated complaints, he resorted to this method of protest. He lay down in the dirty water and, from the spot, conveyed to the responsible departments that mere assurances would no longer suffice. According to the councilor, waterlogging isn’t the only problem in the park. The swings in the park have been broken for nearly a year, and the streetlights are also out of order. This is causing inconvenience to children and local residents. He alleges that despite repeated complaints, the park’s facilities have not been repaired. This is also fueling resentment among the locals.
People gathered to protest in dirty water, demanding a solution from the administration.
Seeing the councilor lying in the water, a crowd of people gathered around him. During the protest, he clearly stated that this protest was not about any personal issue, but about the problems of the people of the area. He said that there should be a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging and dirt in the park, so that the local people can get relief. Councilor Meraj warned that if the problems of waterlogging, dirt, broken swings and faulty street lights are not solved soon, then the protest will be intensified. He said that his struggle regarding the problems of the public will continue and he will not back down until the responsible officials take action.
The question is – when will the park become safe and clean for the people?
After the images of Bhikam Singh Park surfaced, the biggest question is when will the long-standing problems of waterlogging and poor condition be resolved. For now, the councilor’s unique protest has certainly raised questions about the functioning of the responsible departments.
