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Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
No STPs, waste flows through Badshapur drain into Yamuna
Gurgaon: Toxic waste continues to flow unchecked into the city's Badshapur drain, polluting the Yamuna — amid an absence of any treatment mechanism. The Badshapur drain spans 29km and is technically a rainwater channel. But over the years, it has become a dumping line for industrial and domestic waste. Industrial units in the city are continuing to discharge untreated wastewater into the Badshapur stormwater drain, despite repeated complaints, official surveys and govt action plans identifying the channel as a key source of pollution in Yamuna. What flows through it eventually empties into the Najafgarh drain and finally, the Yamuna — carrying a toxic cocktail that includes chemicals, sewage and heavy metals. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Locals say no inspection teams have visited the area in months. Residents said these units often discharge chemical-laced water into the same channel at night or early morning. "We have seen at least 15 tankers dumping waste into the drain at the same spot. This is routine," said Manoj Yadav, a resident of Sector 34. "Sometimes they wait until it's dark, assuming nobody's watching." In 2019, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board identified 26 illegal discharge points into the Badshapur channel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo A year before that, the state's own Yamuna Action Plan flagged this very drain as a major source of pollution entering the river system. An HSPCB official on Friday acknowledged that untreated effluents being released into the stormwater channel was a problem but added that the agency has resource constraints. "We are aware of the violations and have issued notices to several industrial units in the area. We have shut down several polluting units in the past," the official said. Guddu Kumar, another local, said the stench is unbearable. "It's hard to breathe. Our kids keep falling sick. We have filed complaints with the pollution board, but nothing changes." Environmentalist Varun Gulati said, "This isn't new. For years, we have submitted photos, videos and written complaints. These units dump waste somewhere after getting notice or sometimes shift to some other place." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bihari migrants in Bengaluru in dilemma over SIR
Migrant labourers from Bihar living in Bengaluru are divided over whether to return to their hometowns to fill out the enumeration form issued by the Election Commission as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. In the lead-up to the Bihar elections, expected to be held in November, the Election Commission is undertaking a voter verification drive, the first in 22 years. Many Bihari migrants working in the city expressed mixed reactions when The Hindu spoke to them. Most of them cited time constraints, travel expenses, and a tedious process, even as the Election Commission continues to push the SIR aggressively. Midway through work Guddu Kumar, a native of Chhapra in Bihar, explained that workers usually travel home in groups for extended periods after completing their contracted work. However, at the moment, they are unable to go either alone or as a group, because they are in the middle of a project. 'If we leave midway and stay back for a long time, the current manager won't re-hire us when we return. Finding a new job again is a tedious task,' said Kumar. His co-workers at the construction site agreed with him. Ashu Raj, who works at a construction site in Ejipura, said that returning home now would be difficult because they would have to travel again for the elections and the upcoming festivals. During festivals 'Diwali and Chhath Pooja are the two festivals we always look forward to. If we go now, it will be hard to afford another trip soon, especially since many of us just returned in February,' Mr. Raj said. He added that some managers withhold part of the workers' salary and release it only when they go home, so many currently lack the savings needed for travel. A contractor, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed this. 'It's not a very common practice, but yes, some managers do withhold wages to ensure workers don't leave a project halfway,' he said. When asked whether they were concerned about missing the chance to vote, some workers said the hassle of going back and forth isn't worth it. They believe and hope the process will be available again when they return home for the festivals. Potential consequences However, others were more cautious and determined to participate in the process, fearing potential consequences. 'There are talks that the government might stop issuing rations and other essential benefits to those who don't complete the SIR. If that happens, our families back in the village will suffer,' said Ramesh, a tile worker near Suddaguntepalya. A few workers, whose names were already included in the 2003 revision, said their families were able to complete the current process on their behalf by submitting identity documents, so they didn't have to travel back. However, officials did not accept documents in the absence of voters if they were registered after 2003. Though EC has given the option of online registration, most The Hindu spoke to said they were unaware of it. Some said they did not have the necessary documents in Bengaluru to complete the process online.
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bihari migrants in Bengaluru are in dilemma over SIR
Migrant labourers from Bihar living in Bengaluru are divided over whether to return to their hometowns to fill out the enumeration form issued by the Election Commission as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. In the lead-up to the Bihar elections, expected to be held in November, the Election Commission is undertaking a voter verification drive, the first in 22 years. Many Bihari migrants working in the city expressed mixed reactions when The Hindu spoke to them. Most of them cited time constraints, travel expenses, and a tedious process, even as the Election Commission continues to push the SIR aggressively. Midway through work Guddu Kumar, a native of Chhapra in Bihar, explained that workers usually travel home in groups for extended periods after completing their contracted work. However, at the moment, they are unable to go either alone or as a group, because they are in the middle of a project. 'If we leave midway and stay back for a long time, the current manager won't re-hire us when we return. Finding a new job again is a tedious task,' said Kumar. His co-workers at the construction site agreed with him. Ashu Raj, who works at a construction site in Ejipura, said that returning home now would be difficult because they would have to travel again for the elections and the upcoming festivals. During festivals 'Diwali and Chhath Pooja are the two festivals we always look forward to. If we go now, it will be hard to afford another trip soon, especially since many of us just returned in February,' Mr. Raj said. He added that some managers withhold part of the workers' salary and release it only when they go home, so many currently lack the savings needed for travel. A contractor, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed this. 'It's not a very common practice, but yes, some managers do withhold wages to ensure workers don't leave a project halfway,' he said. When asked whether they were concerned about missing the chance to vote, some workers said the hassle of going back and forth isn't worth it. They believe and hope the process will be available again when they return home for the festivals. Potential consequences However, others were more cautious and determined to participate in the process, fearing potential consequences. 'There are talks that the government might stop issuing rations and other essential benefits to those who don't complete the SIR. If that happens, our families back in the village will suffer,' said Ramesh, a tile worker near Suddaguntepalya. A few workers, whose names were already included in the 2003 revision, said their families were able to complete the current process on their behalf by submitting identity documents, so they didn't have to travel back. However, officials did not accept documents in the absence of voters if they were registered after 2003. Though EC has given the option of online registration, most The Hindu spoke to said they were unaware of it. Some said they did not have the necessary documents in Bengaluru to complete the process online.
