Welcome to our version of a “smart city,” where open drains are apparently a feature, not a flaw. Right outside homes, we have this beautifully curated stream of stagnant water, plastic waste, and mystery liquids,perfect for breeding mosquitoes and testing human patience. The smell? Complimentary. The risk of slipping into it? Also included. But don’t worry, this is all part of the grand vision of urban development we keep hearing about.
Meanwhile, our respected MPS and councillors seem to have mastered the art of selective visibility,highly active during elections, completely invisible when actual work is needed. Basic infrastructure like covered drains and regular cleaning somehow didn’t make it to the priority list. Maybe it’s not glamorous enough to cut ribbons on, or maybe it just doesn’t make for good speeches.
At the end of the day, residents continue to pay taxes for services that exist more on paper than on the ground. What we get instead is a daily reminder that accountability has quietly flowed away,much like the water that should have been properly disposed of.