Chandigarh, Nov. 11 -- Long before Le Corbusier planned modern Chandigarh in the 1950s, Manimajra flourished as a princely state during the British era. Today, centuries of rich heritage stand in sharp contrast to the urban neglect faced by its residents. The ward is home to the 18th-century Manimajra Fort and 500-year-old landmarks like the Shiv Temple and Thakurdwara. Traditional pockets, such as Pipliwala town and Shanti Nagar, form the high-density core of historic Manimajra-now integrated into Chandigarh as Ward 5 (Sector 13), along with Bank Colony, Subhash Nagar, and Darshani Bagh. Following the recent special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the total electorate in the ward shrank from 22,000 to approximately 17,000 voters. However, despite this reduction in official voter numbers, local public infrastructure buckles under heavy daily pressure. While residents largely express satisfaction with the electricity supply and internal road conditions, they complain of openly dumped garbage, parking shortages, traffic congestion, and haphazard overhead wiring. In the densely populated neighbourhoods of Shanti Nagar and Pipliwala, internal roads remain jam-packed due to mismanaged traffic and unorganised roadside parking. At Morigate Bazaar in Manimajra, residents say wastewater has started flowing onto the roads due to garbage choking the drains. The problem aggravated nearly a month ago as sanitation workers refused to clean the drains citing unfriendly infrastructure around the drains. On the receiving end are residents and commuters who have to brave through the filthy conditions. The situation deteriorates during the monsoon when waterlogging disrupts traffic and poses a safety risk for both motorists and pedestrians. Water quality and supply infrastructure have emerged as another flashpoint for local residents. The ambitious 24x7 water supply project in Manimajra, inaugurated by Union home minister Amit Shah in August 2024 with an initial capital outlay of about Rs.75 crore, aimed to provide round-the-clock potable water to the area. However, the project has drawn widespread dissatisfaction among residents over execution delays, poor water quality, and the controversial loss of local open spaces. The takeover of the locality's primary open field for utility works has left young residents without recreational infrastructure. Aam Aadmi Party's Harpreet Singh Happy, who lost to councillor Darshana Devi (Congress) in the 2021 municipal corporation elections, flagged the absence of space for outdoor recreational activities. He says that children are left with no spaces to play sports like cricket and football after their traditional playing area was subsumed by the 24x7 water project. Adding to property owners' frustration is a prolonged administrative deadlock over home construction. Residents say house maps and building plans have been stuck without approval since 2021 because municipal authorities have not provided clear guidelines for the area. Since Manimajra's old, narrow streets and traditional plots do not fit Chandigarh's strict modern building rules, applications remain caught in bureaucratic red tape, leaving homeowners uncertain about when they can build or renovate....