Gurgaon is a developing city, and what’s the price for it? Air thick with construction debris and dust! Members of several RWAs in the city have come together to act against runaway dust pollution.
Residents claim that barely a kilometre from Nirvana Country, the air around Golf Course Extension Road is thick with dust and other pollutants.
An e-mail campaign has already been launched involving RWAs, residents, schools and parents. The objective is to mobilise a coordinated effort towards clearing of construction debris from Golf Course Extension Road. The stretch is accessed by thousands of commuters.
"Construction and building material are dumped on the road in places such as Badarpur. The air is thick with sand and dust particles. Motorists often drive through mounds of loose soil on both sides of the road, kicking up dust in the process. The dust puts commuters at risk of respiratory illness. With each car that speeds by, the volume of dust increases and those living in the vicinity are the worst hit,” explained Ruchika Sethi Takkar, a citizen activist and resident of Nirvana Country.
“We don’t know why the authorities have failed to ensure proper maintenance of this road. However, with the administration taking active steps now to bring down air-pollution levels, we are hopeful of some respite,” said Shona, a resident of Silver Oaks Apartments, DLF Phase I.
Rajeev Agarwal, who recently moved back to Gurgaon from Singapore and is now a resident of Palm Drive on Golf Course Extension Road, explained, “Construction workers in Singapore — mostly Indians — ensure that every truck laden with construction material is washed before they exit the construction site. This goes a long way in ensuring that loose dust doesn’t spread to residential areas.”
He added, “After living for two years in Singapore I returned home in the hope of some improvement in the quality of living under the new government. However, things seem to have gone from bad to worse. Roads are in a bad shape and traffic jams and vehicular pollution have worsened. The air is thick with loose dust from construction sites, and when it rains, it’s hell on the roads."
A senior HUDA official said, “We recently conducted an anti-encroachment drive, during which we removed all unauthorised shops from Golf Course Extension Road. We will ensure that an inspection of construction sites is conducted and prompt action taken against offenders.”
Here is what the residents demand:
- Construction material sold outside residential complexes in the open and lying in heaps should be covered and kept wet
- Trucks carrying sand or construction waste should be impounded and fined if found uncovered
- Road shoulders have to be repaired on both sides, so dust from mud mounds doesn’t spread
- The road on this entire route is to be repaired without delay, as heavy trucks ply on it
- Dry waste collection centres are to be built to minimise open burning of waste
- Installation of air-monitoring devices for real-time air-quality checks
- Designating construction and demolition (C&D) waste dumping transit points
