Residents from several housing societies on Golf Course Extension
Road have decided to meet Gurgaon’s deputy commissioner and police
commissioner to seek their intervention on dust pollution, especially
from heavy trucks laden with construction material.
According to them, if a police checkpost is set up on the stretch and fines are issued to errant truck drivers, there will be a significant decrease in pollution levels. The stretch is accessed by thousands of commuters and those living nearby are the worst affected.
A police team will conduct an inspection of the stretch on Wednesday and submit a report to the commissioner.
The residents have also demanded better policing of trucks ferrying uncovered construction material.
“The police needs to be vigilant and issue challans or impound errant
trucks on this stretch. It will help control rising dust-pollution
levels,” said Ruchika Sethi Takkar, a citizen activist and resident of
Nirvana Country, Sector 50.
Sandeep Khirwar, Gurgaon police commissioner, said, “We have taken
note of residents' concerns and will carry out an inspection of the
area. We will also take legal action against offenders. We will discuss
the issue with the deputy commissioner. A local advisory could also be
issued in this regard. The officials will ensure prompt action.”
Residents have already launched an email campaign to get this stretch
cleared of construction debris and the dust rising from it. The
campaign involves citizens, schools and parents.
“The civic administration needs to act on several issues, including
designated transit points for storing malba [construction debris]. They
also have to designate and develop dry waste collection centres,” said
Ila Gupta,a resident of The Legend, Sector 57.
“My son was distressed as he was not being able to participate in
outdoor sports activities owing to the dust pollution. Now I am also a
victim,” said Shivani Sharma Dhillon, a resident of Close Apartments,
Sector 50.
“If a person is constantly exposed to dust and construction waste, he
or she runs the risk of inhaling silica, which slips through the filter
mechanism of the nose and throat. This reduces lung capacity and makes
the person vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis and other
respiratory and cardiovascular problems,” said Sanjay Mehta, a doctor
with a private hospital in Sector 51.
Now it remains to be seen whether the authorities adhere to the
demands of the residents, which include designating transit points for
construction debris, designating and developing dry waste collection
centres and building road shoulders to ensure that people don’t drive on
mounds of dust.
