Chandigarh, Nov. 14 -- For residents of Ward 8, comprising the four erstwhile villages of Mauli Pind, Raipur Kalan, Raipur Khurd and Makhan Majra, civic development remains a work in progress five years after they first voted as part of the Municipal Corporation (MC). Merged into the MC in 2018 along with nine other villages, the area exited the panchayat system in early 2019 and participated in its maiden civic polls in 2021. From broken roads and overflowing drains to poor sanitation, stray cattle and heavy-vehicle congestion, local residents say daily civic problems remain unresolved. While BJP councillor Harjeet Singh, the ward's first municipal representative, maintains that major infrastructure upgrades-including new water and sewerage pipelines and five tubewells-have been delivered, residents question why long-pending road repairs began only weeks before the elections. Broken roads top the list of grievances. In Mauli Pind, residents say the main stretch lay in disrepair for two years before recarpeting began a month ahead of the polls. Adding to commuter woes, heavy trucks regularly navigate narrow internal lanes, damaging both road surfaces and overhead electricity lines, while haphazard parking and school-hour traffic choke movement. Ramu Yadav, a Mauli Pind resident since 1990, says poll promises have failed to bring relief, pointing to irregular water supply and uncleaned, choked gutters. Stationery shop owner Ruchi Sadi, a resident for 22 years, flags monsoon waterlogging and traffic bottlenecks outside a school tucked inside a narrow lane during dispersal hours. The ward also faces an acute shortage of recreational spaces. With only a single major park in Vikas Nagar serving a dense population, adults often occupy the grounds, leaving little room for children. Residents also point to social tension between pockets, saying that some families avoid sending children to parks in neighbouring localities over fears of disputes. Meanwhile, equipment at the ward's two open gyms lies damaged. Students flagged substance abuse and street brawls as escalating safety threats. Deepak Kumar, a Class 12 student at Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Mauli Jagran, alleged that groups frequently create a ruckus after consuming drugs and have clashed with schoolchildren multiple times. "The councillor had promised to make the area drug-free and improve cleanliness and education, but not much has changed," another student said. Stray cattle roaming roads, feeding on plastic waste and causing accidents remain major grievances. Local social worker Shekhar Yadav, 26, accused the MC of failing to act despite collecting cow cess. He cited the deaths of over 50-60 cattle at the MC-run Makhan Majra gaushala (cow shelter) in January this year as a key poll issue. "It was shameful and worrying, and people want accountability. Cattle still lie unattended on roads after accidents, and dung goes uncleaned," he said. Following the January deaths, the UT administration ordered a magisterial probe. The MC sacked contractual staff, police registered an FIR under the BNS and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and 24x7 CCTV monitoring was ordered. Former Mauli Jagran sarpanch and Congress leader Harinder Singh Thakur accused the MC of ignoring a seasonal nullah passing through the area. He said retaining walls were built along sections of the drain during the panchayat's 2013-18 tenure, but the civic body failed to complete the remaining stretch. "During the monsoon, the choked nullah quickly overflows. Contaminated water enters homes and streets, posing a threat to residents and livestock," Thakur said. "We have cried ourselves hoarse, but who will wake them from their deep slumber except elections?" He also alleged civic negligence in Raipur Khurd, citing the death of a child who fell into an open pit dug for civic work....