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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
MCD forms teams to curb illegal garbage dumping in Gurugram
The district administration and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) have formed 20 special teams to tackle the problem of illegal garbage dumping across Gurugram. These teams have started carrying out field inspections in affected areas by identifying locations where garbage is being dumped openly along roadsides, vacant plots, and initiating immediate clearing drives, said officials familiar with the matter adding that the stretched are being cleared one by one by the teams. Contractors are illegally dumping garbage and C&D waste on the Gurugram-Faridabad Road near Khushboo Chowk. (Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times) Officials said the campaign aims to deliver visible results within days, especially in the rapidly developing sectors where plastic waste, construction debris, and roadside eateries are major contributors to the mess. The move comes amid rising public outrage over unhygienic conditions, unsafe water sources, and unchecked encroachments that residents say are turning parts of the city into health hazards. 'We have deployed senior officials to oversee fieldwork and ensure continuous monitoring,' said deputy commissioner of Gurugram Ajay Kumar. 'The goal is to eliminate legacy waste and prevent further dumping. With the current pace of operations, we expect to see substantial improvement within the next two months. All teams are working round the clock to ensure clean and safe surroundings.' Residents, however, say the crisis has reached a breaking point in several sectors. In Suncity, Sector 54, a group of residents has submitted a formal letter to the MCG commissioner citing severe health and environmental risks due to illegal jhugis, open toilets, and garbage dumping around a public water tank. 'The foul smell is unbearable and we fear contamination of our drinking water,' the letter states. 'These encroachments violate multiple public health and environmental laws and must be removed immediately.' The residents have demanded water testing, fencing of the area, and strict legal action. 'Suncity RWA has created a garbage dumping yard close to drinking water underground tank at suncity Sector 54. This will pollute the potable water during monsoon,' said VMK Singh, SRWA ex-general secretary. 'This situation has been developing for months. Garbage is lying openly in front of BPTP Sector 37D, and despite repeated complaints, MCG has failed to act. Dozens of unauthorised roadside eateries are generating most of this waste, but no one seems to care,' said Singh. Kusum Sharma, chairperson Suncity RWA said that the condition is worst of all times.'We are facing major challenge for waste pickup as the waste collectors have left the city. We don't know how to manage and control the situation with no help from the civic agency . We are paying out of our pockets to get the waste cleared everyday'. Suhel Seth, a Gurugram-based businessman and columnist, said many stretches of the city are overflowing with garbage, plastic, and construction debris. Despite repeated claims by the civic agency that the area has been cleared, nothing has changed on the ground. In fact, the situation is deteriorating day by day. Sector 37C and Sector 52 residents have similar complaints as well. Group captain Sandeep Sharma, RWA president of BPTP Sector 37D, said, 'Sector 37C is in a mess. The roads are broken, water is stagnant, and garbage is piled high. Mosquitoes are everywhere—this is a potential public health emergency.' 'This is not just about unauthorised dumping—it's being done by people who should be protecting the city,' said Pramod Joshi, a resident of Sector 52. 'We have escalated this matter to MCG and even the chief minister's office, but there's been no improvement. We feel abandoned.' Pradeep Dahiya, MCG commissioner said they have deployed teams to keep a check on the issue and their teams are working in each zones to ensure that waste is collected and legacy waste is removed after being dumped. Manoj Aggarwal, another resident, said, 'It's as if we live in a forgotten corner of Gurugram. Cleanliness, basic infrastructure—everything is missing.' The newly formed enforcement teams are also tasked with submitting daily reports for future preventive action, including penalties for violators and businesses contributing to the waste burden. Officials say repeat offenders will face strict action under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gurugram Metro Phase 1 builder finalised, work could start by end of month
The Gurugram Metro's Phase 1 construction — from Millennium City Centre to Sector 9, spanning 15.23km and 14 stations — could begin soon as a joint venture of Dilip Buildcon Ltd and Ranjit Buildcon Ltd (DBL-RBL) has emerged as the lowest bidder for the ₹1,586 crore construction tender with a bid of ₹1,503 crore, officials of Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) said on Sunday. Millennium City Centre metro station in Gurugram Sector 29. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) Negotiations with the company will be held in the next 10 days after which they will be awarded the work, a GMRL official said, adding that the company is expected to start work at the project site by the end of this month. GMRL said that a total of six firms had bid for the project. 'The project involves construction of a 15.23-kilometre-long viaduct and 14 elevated metro stations, along with a 1.85km spur to Dwarka Expressway, an underpass at Bhakhtawar Chowk, and a ramp to the depot at Sector 33. The construction timeline is 30 months. The project cost is ₹1,503.63 crore,' Dilip Buildcon told SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) on August 2. 'In accordance with the provisions of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we are pleased to inform you that the company through DBL-RBL JV has declared as L-1 bidder for the tender floated by GMRL,' it said. According to GMRL, the civil contractor will have to conduct a detailed survey of the alignment for the viaduct to fix the span and construct major components of the viaduct. The contractor will also build the station structure including track supporting structure, commercial area and other civil works including entry and exits to the stations. The contractor will set up a control room with round-the-clock radio communication or telephone switch board links with all safety offices, works sites, site offices, batching plants, casting yards, workshops and all locations. 'The Gururgam Metro project has to be completed in the next four years and this is the reason we are working hard to finalise the alignment of the phase two as well so that the tender for civil construction can be floated,' a senior GMRL official said. The metro stations, which will be constructed under Phase 1 are Millennium City Centre, which will be connected with the Delhi Metro station through an interchange, Sector 45, Cyber Park (Sector 46), Sector 47, Subhash Chowk, Sector 48, Sector 33, Hero Honda Chowk, Udyog Vihar Phase 6, Sector 10, Sector 37, Basai, Sector 9 and Sector 101, which will be connected through a spur. 'The joint venture of Dilip Buildcon and Ranjit Buildcon has emerged as the lowest bidder for the construction of first phase of Gurugram metro from Millennium City centre to Sector 9. Six companies had qualified for the financial bid, which were evaluated by GMRL. The negotiations with the lowest bidder will be held in next seven to 10 days after which work will be awarded. We expect the contractor to mobilise the site by the end of this month as construction of Gurugram Metro project is on high priority,' said a senior GMRL official. The six companies which qualified for the tender included L&T, GR Infra, Afcons, J Kumar and KLPT, said the official, adding that the bids were between ₹1,503 crore and ₹1,812 crore. The construction tender for the first phase of Gururgam Metro was floated on March 8 but it was extended in May as the scope of work had changed. The ₹5,452 crore Gurugram Metro extension project, whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 16 last year, will extend the metro line from Huda City Centre to Cyber Hub via Old Gurugram, covering a total distance of 28.5km with a total of 27 elevated stations.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Faridabad: Illegal garbage dumping near Surajkund sparks concerns
Residents of Charmwood Village in Faridabad's Sector 39 have raised alarm over illegal and unchecked dumping of garbage on a municipal buffer zone adjoining C-Block and Kenwood residential colonies, directly opposite the Surajkund Mela grounds. Waste pileup near Belvedere Towers condos. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) Once a green tract of land owned by the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) and used as paid parking during the Surajkund Crafts Mela, the area has now turned into an open dumping ground for construction debris, household waste, plastic trash, and even human waste, locals claimed. 'The dumping happens at night using tractors and small trucks,' said Prince Chadha, president of the C-Block Resident Welfare Association. 'What began as small-scale piling has now taken over a large portion of the land. If not controlled, it will spread across the entire zone at an alarming rate.' In a formal complaint to the MCF Commissioner, residents have sought urgent intervention. They demand clearing of accumulated waste, fencing off the area, and installation of caution boards to prevent further misuse of the land. The situation has deteriorated over the past few months, according to residents, who now report large-scale dumping activities and encroachments by informal vendors, alongside the area being used as an open toilet. 'There's so much filth and foul smell; people around Charmwood Village can no longer open their windows,' Chadha said. 'This land was once a green buffer zone that gave our neighbourhood fresh air and visual relief. Today, it stinks of apathy.' Environmentalists have also raised red flags. Delhi-based birdwatcher and environmentalist Nikhil Devasar compared the situation to the Bandhwari landfill disaster in Gurugram. 'Unchecked dumping led to leachate leaking into the soil, contaminating groundwater and causing public health issues. Let's not wait for a crisis to unfold here as well,' he said. The site lies barely 10 feet from the Radha Soami Satsang centre and 30 feet from the Taj Surajkund property, raising concerns not just for residents but also for tourists visiting the heritage zone. When contacted, a senior MCF official said, 'We will conduct a site inspection shortly. Based on the findings, appropriate action will be taken to prevent further dumping and restore the area.' Despite repeated complaints to civic officials, including the junior engineer of MCF, residents claim that no concrete action has been taken so far. To be sure, Charmwood Village, developed in 1994, lies adjacent to the Surajkund Heritage Site and houses hundreds of families who now fear potential public health and environmental risks if the dumping is not curbed immediately.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Gurugram-Faridabad road chokes on illegally dumped waste, locals slam civic apathy
The once-scenic Gurugram-Faridabad Road, a vital lifeline between two key NCR cities, has now devolved into a massive, open-air dumping ground, earning the nickname 'Garbage Gallery' from frustrated commuters. Once known for its panoramic views of the Aravallis, the stretch now reeks of decay, uncollected waste, and administrative inaction. Illegally dumped waste along the road. near Khushboo Chowk in Gurugram. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) Daily commuters report navigating through not just traffic but also the stench and hazards of illegal waste piles since the last one month, ranging from kitchen refuse and plastic bags to construction debris and glass shards, some of which have spilled from green belts onto the main carriageway. 'This is not urban neglect anymore; this is environmental vandalism. What started near Bandhwari has now infested this highway,' said Suhel Seth, a Gurugram-based businessman and columnist. 'Construction waste has taken over road shoulders and is now inching dangerously close to the main road, putting commuters and the ecosystem at risk.' Commuters like Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Valley View Estate, echoed the sentiment: 'The view is disgusting. It's like the authorities have quietly accepted this mess. Every day I see new piles of waste. It's never-ending.' Ramesh Singh, a corporate executive who cycles to work on weekends, highlighted safety risks: 'Forget aesthetics. It's a safety hazard. Sharp materials, nails, and broken glass from debris pose real danger to two-wheelers. And we're talking about a major road here.' Meanwhile, Ruchika Sethi Takkar, founder of Citizens for Clean Air, described the situation as a complete collapse of civic enforcement. 'Given the breakdown in monitoring and enforcement capacities, along with the city's dire civic mess and waste crisis, it's imperative that local authorities send an SOS to the chief minister. The Cabinet should consider deploying defence forces, who are trained to protect national boundaries, to safeguard our ecologically fragile topography and hills,' she added. Unchecked dumping, particularly of inert materials, is causing irreversible damage, rendering the soil impervious to water absorption and increasing the city's vulnerability to extreme weather events like cloudbursts, Takkar added. 'The Deputy Commissioner, MCG, and Pollution Board must seek reinforcements immediately. Meanwhile, the chief minister should stall the S+4 policy in settled colonies, which will only worsen the waste crisis, until we have the capacity to manage the current situation effectively.' What began as sporadic dumping has escalated into systemic abuse of public land. With no CCTV surveillance, fencing, or routine patrols, miscreants continue to dump waste under cover of darkness, residents alleged. Entire green belts have vanished beneath rubble and plastics, they added. MCG response: Crackdown underway In response to public outcry, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has ramped up its crackdown on illegal dumping across the city. According to Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya, illegal dumping is punishable, and dedicated Sanitation Security Forces, with police support, are now patrolling key areas, especially at night. During a July special drive, the MCG seized 81 vehicles and imposed ₹12.3 lakh in fines. Dumping hotspots like sectors 48, 29, 65, Ghata, Khandsa, and Sector 9 were under constant monitoring. 'The message is clear. We will not tolerate those who treat Gurugram like a landfill,' said Dahiya. 'Whether someone dumps directly or through hired help, legal action will follow.' Despite efforts, residents argue the Gurugram-Faridabad stretch continues to be abused with impunity. They demand 24x7 surveillance, public naming of offenders, and tighter regulation on construction waste transport. The MCG has also called on residents to act responsibly and use designated secondary waste collection points, especially for construction debris, which should go to the Basai C&D Waste Management Plant. 'Let us adopt the spirit of Mera Sheher, Meri Zimmedari,' Dahiya urged.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Nearly 85% of homes, 50% of societies lack working rainwater harvesting pits: GMDA report
Nearly 85% of houses and almost half of the residential societies in Gurugram lack functional rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems, the draft drainage plan prepared by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has revealed. The findings come as GMDA prepares to overhaul the district's drainage system to curb recurring monsoon flooding. A non-functional rainwater harvesting system in Palam Vihar G-Block near Park Hospital. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photos) According to a senior GMDA official, the authority has held its first meeting to review the drainage plan, with more discussions scheduled to finalise the comprehensive strategy. 'We will work on the basis of this report and ensure that rainwater harvesting structures are made functional,' the official said. The draft report highlights that 'existing recharge wells constructed by individuals in respective plots, by RWAs in common areas, and in public buildings and group housing societies need to be made functional with proper storage capacities for at least one hour and desilting chambers.' It assessed that 85% of the recharge pits in individual houses and 50% of those in residential societies are currently nonfunctional. The plan identifies built-up, vacant, road-covered, and green areas across Gurugram and calculates rainfall runoff for each drainage catchment. 'A substantial amount of water can be saved by effectively using RWH systems inside homes and condominiums,' the GMDA official added. He further said nearly 50% of rainwater could be redirected to RWH structures, green belts, and ponds if recommendations are seriously implemented. The draft plan provides catchment-wise data for major city drains. For Leg 1 drain (Nathupur to Najafgarh via Palam Vihar), the catchment is 6,599 acres, including 2,228 acres of built-up area, 1,308 acres of vacant land, 1,781 acres of roads, and 1,282 acres of green areas. 'Almost 70% of RWH systems in residential areas are not functional,' the official confirmed, citing this drain zone. He added that successful water diversion to green belts had already been achieved in the Aravalli area above Golf Course Road. According to officials, Leg 2, running from Chakkarpur to Millennium City Centre along Sheetla Mata Road, has a catchment of 15,457 acres, with 4,833 acres built up, 2,832 acres vacant, 4,412 acres roads, and 3,379 acres green areas. Leg 3 (Badshahpur drain), meanwhile, has the largest catchment at 49,302 acres—of which 14,849 acres are built up, 8,892 vacant, 11,593 under roads, and 14,056 green. The official cited above added that enforcement of RWH compliance may be strengthened and that 40% of city green belts could be modified to retain rainwater by lowering their elevation. Increasing the capacity of existing ponds is also under consideration. According to officials, current government norms require RWH systems in houses built on plots over 100 square yards. Before possession certificates are issued by HSVP or the DTP office, compliance reports on RWH installation must be submitted.
