Latest news with #SurajkundCraftsMela
Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- 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
04-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Manesar to get a Disneyland: Saini
The National Capital Region (NCR) is set to become home to India's first Disneyland Park, with the Haryana government proposing a 500-acre amusement and entertainment destination in Manesar, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Thursday. The Haryana government has proposed a 500-acre amusement and entertainment destination in Manesar, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Thursday. (HT PHOTO) The proposed park will be located along the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway and the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor, ensuring seamless access from Delhi and other major centres. The plan, which officials said is part of the state's broader strategy to transform itself into a global tourism hub, aims to position Haryana alongside global destinations like Paris, Tokyo, and California that host similar Disney-themed parks. Saini described the project as a 'game-changer' for Haryana's tourism and economy. 'This entertainment hub will bring economic, cultural, and social benefits not only to Haryana but to the entire country,' said Saini, following discussions with Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Delhi. 'Manesar's proximity to Delhi, its infrastructure, and corporate presence make it the perfect location.' State tourism officials aware of the project's details said the move is expected to drastically alter the region's tourism profile. It is likely to attract massive private investment, boost infrastructure, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and catalyse growth in the hospitality, entertainment, and real estate sectors in and around Manesar and Pachgaon. The announcement is being seen as an effort to fill the entertainment void left by the shuttering of Gurugram's Kingdom of Dreams in 2022, which had once promised to be India's collapsed amid mounting financial losses and disputes between its promoters and state authorities. 'This project will mark a turning point for Haryana's tourism economy,' said a senior tourism department official. 'Disneyland's global brand value, combined with Haryana's expressways and mega infrastructure projects like the Global City, will elevate the entire NCR as a destination for tourists and investors alike.' Owned by the Walt Disney Company, there are five Disneylands across the world — in California and Florida in the United States, Paris (France), Tokyo (Japan), and Hong Kong. On asked if the project has been cleared by Disney, a senior state government official, requesting anonymity, said, 'The project was announced only after all necessary communications were completed and after receiving the proposal from all concerned parties. However, Disney has not issued an official statement yet.' As part of its holistic tourism push, the Haryana government is also expanding its cultural calendar. The Surajkund Crafts Mela, traditionally held once a year, will now be hosted thrice annually with the addition of a Diwali Fair and a Book Fair. The expanded calendar is aimed at offering broader platforms for artisans, performers, and writers, and drawing larger tourist footfalls. Saini also urged the Centre to extend financial support for scaling up the annual International Gita Mahotsav, a Kurukshetra-based celebration of the Bhagavad Gita's teachings. 'Projects like Disneyland, Surajkund expansion, and Gita Mahotsav will redefine Haryana's global image. We're committed to building a world-class cultural and tourism ecosystem,' he said. Tourism industry experts welcomed the integrated approach, saying that blending heritage, entertainment, and infrastructure could significantly increase Haryana's tourist inflow. Officials added that land acquisition and administrative work for the Disneyland project is already underway, and discussions with global partners are progressing. Groundwork is expected to begin in the coming months. However, the announcement has stirred political memories of an earlier, unsuccessful attempt. In 1989, the Om Prakash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government had proposed a Disney-style park over 28,000 acres in Gurugram. The project was scrapped following intense farmer protests over land acquisition, turning it into a politically sensitive issue. Abhay Singh Chautala, INLD's national president, lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of hypocrisy. 'The BJP vehemently opposed the 1989 proposal and even a plan for a casino in 2000. They must now explain what has changed,' he said. BJP, however, leaders defended the new project, drawing a distinction between past and present. 'Our opposition in 1989 was against the forcible acquisition of thousands of acres of farmers' land. This project is limited to 500 acres and will be executed in a manner that respects farmers' interests while promoting development,' said Arun Yadav, BJP social media head.
