Residents allege that the waste segregation point is being built on protected forest zone that accumulates rain water of the area.
Continuing their stand against a proposed waste segregation site of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), residents of DLF Phase I carried out a peaceful protest on Friday outside the mini secretariat, and presented a memorandum to deputy commissioner, Vinay Pratap Singh, for his intervention in the matter.
According to the residents, the envisaged waste segregation point is at a distance of less than 10 m from a residential colony, in addition to being inside a forest area. They alleged that a storm water drain was illegally filled and several trees had been felled.
The protesters included residents from Block G, Block H and Silver Oak Apartments of DLF Phase I, who were accompanied by RS Rathee, the local councillor of the area.
Protesters said the deputy commissioner assured them that he will take up the matter with MCG officials.
“Residents met me regarding their grievances. Since the location of waste transit station (waste segregation point) has been decided by the MCG, I have forwarded their complaints to the corporation. Now, the MCG has to take a call on it considering all aspects of the issue,” the deputy commissioner said.
Residents, though, were unhappy with the authority’s response in the matter, and said they will escalate their protests if inaction continues.
“Officials are not at all sensitive to citizens’ concern about pollution and health. Decisions on civic issues are arbitrary and decided without taking into consideration the concerns of residents. Officials continue to take decisions unilaterally without any dialogue and consultation with citizens,” complained Shona Chatterjee, a resident of DLF Phase I.
“We are not against the waste segregation point, but it should not be at the cost of more than 30,000 residents. It is being built on the Nathupur Nullah, which falls under the protected forest zone that accumulates rain water of the area,” the councillor said.
MCG commissioner, V Umashankar, said that the proposed unit is a transfer point for waste collection and is not in violation of any norms, and the land for the site falls under the civic body’s jurisdiction.
