Drainage Crisis in Ansal Town, Jagadhri: Residents Suffer as Sewers Remain Clogged for Months

Ansal Town, Sector 20, Jagadhri, is grappling with a severe sanitation and health crisis as nearly 80 per cent of the area’s sewer lines have been clogged for the past several months. The problem has worsened with the onset of monsoon, flooding the underground basement of the Ansal Galleria Shopping Complex with muddy rainwater. This stagnant water not only emits a foul stench but also poses serious health risks to residents and visitors alike.

Drainage Crisis in Ansal Town, Jagadhri: Residents Suffer as Sewers Remain Clogged for Months

Jagadhri, July 6, 2025: Ansal Town, Sector 20, Jagadhri, is grappling with a severe sanitation and health crisis as nearly 80 per cent of the area’s sewer lines have been clogged for the past several months. The problem has worsened with the onset of monsoon, flooding the underground basement of the Ansal Galleria Shopping Complex with muddy rainwater. This stagnant water not only emits a foul stench but also poses serious health risks to residents and visitors alike.

The township, which houses around 400 built-up homes and approximately 1,500 residents, has been dealing with poor drainage infrastructure for a long time. Despite paying significant maintenance charges to the Sunrise Estate Management Society (SEMS), the agency responsible for upkeep, residents allege that no substantial steps have been taken to address the issue. SEMS had earlier collected hefty amounts from residents promising a proper sewage treatment plant (STP), but instead, only a 10-kilolitre septic tank has been installed—grossly inadequate for a township of this size. Residents say that an STP with a minimum capacity of 100 KLD (kilolitres per day) is urgently needed.

Repeated pleas have been made by the residents for the installation of heavy-duty pumps to clear accumulated water and for house-to-house fogging to prevent mosquito breeding. However, the management agency has failed to act, increasing residents’ frustration.

The stagnant water, both in the drainage system and in vacant plots, has started seeping into the foundations of nearby homes, leading to the development of structural cracks in several houses. Residents fear a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases due to the unhygienic conditions. Children and elderly people are particularly at risk.

What’s adding to the residents’ anguish is the apathy of the authorities. Despite several complaints and follow-ups, no concrete action has been taken either by the maintenance agency.

The residents are now demanding immediate intervention by the district administration and state-level urban development authorities to resolve the crisis.