According to Kundu, the association has repeatedly written to heads of various departments about the sector's shortcomings but nothing has been done. "This is the Housing Board Colony -- 630 dwelling units, out of which 200 are occupied -- but we might as well be living in a village," the association president says.

Lack of bus service is a particularly sore point. Students, especially those studying in Chandigarh, find getting to their school or college a hassle. Says Vishwas, who studies in Chandigarh's Sector 19 Senior Secondary School: "Several long-distance buses pass on the main road connecting the sector, but bus drivers rarely stop to pick up a local passenger. No local bus goes to Chandigarh from here." As for Haryana Government employee Rajinder Singh: "A Sarkari Special should ply here since there are many government employees living in this sector."

One housewife blasts two shortcomings in a single grumble: "Because of bad bus service it takes me hours to get to Sector 15 and I have to go there to deposit our electricity bill because the Electricity Department has no cash collection counter in Sector 26. Better bus service would help, but even more I want an Electricity Department extension counter in this sector."

For housewife Krishna Devi, who is highly allergic to parthenium, misery is journeying to the General Hospital in Sector 6, some 8 kms away. Getting medical treatment in case of emergencies is especially problematic. "We want a government dispensary here," she says.

Incidentally, those allergic to parthenium would be well advised to stay far away from Sector 26 the place is full of it.

Adding to the sector's Third World look is the garbage. Refuse lies scattered over every available open space. What to speak of developed parks and gardens, this sector doesn't even have garbage bins. Street sweepers are never seen here. Residents also complain of unlit streets and bad roads.

At one place an overflowing sewerage tank is seen; this is not only a health hazard but a death trap. Something is wrong with the sector's sewerage system since run-off from even a light shower tends to stand on the roads and, according to residents, sometimes blocked pipes result in backed-up overflowing drains.

Even making a phone call is a trouble in Sector 26. No telephone connections have been given and neither are there any nearby STD boothes. Shops in neighbouring Madanpur village have phone connections, but at night or in case of emergency, the residents are helpless. In the absence of a sector market, Sector 26 residents have to depend on Madanpur's small bazaar.

When Chandigarh Newsline put these complaints to HUDA Administrator M. Kithan he asked Sector 26 residents to be patient: "It is still a developing sector; facilities will be in place within six months."

Residents have the consolation that their sector can only get better since it would be almost impossible for it to get worse.