Blocked sewer line spawns health worries in Gurugram Sector 46

Residents of Jal Vihar Colony in Sector 46 are troubled by a blocked sewage in their colony for the past eight months, due to which dirty water accumulates in the area, creating health risks.

Residents said that despite narrating their plight to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), area supervisor and sending a complaint to the chief minister’s window, no action has been taken as yet.

Residents also alleged that there are no garbage bins in the colony, which has led to unsanitary conditions. Over 10,000 residents settled in more than 400 houses in the colony have been affected by the persistent unhygienic conditions around them.

“Because of the blocked sewage, dirty water spills out and we have to walk through it every day. There are mosquitoes breeding in the water, which can lead to diseases such as malaria and dengue. Lack of dustbins only accentuates the problem,” Jai Parkash, a resident of Jal Vihar Colony, said.

Pradeep Kumar, the sub-divisional officer of MCG, said the colony is ‘unapproved’, meaning certain guidelines of the government need to be fulfilled for it to be approved. “We have sent machines there to fix the issue, but the sewer line is simply incapable of taking the load in the morning, resulting in sewage spill every afternoon. Also, since it is an unapproved colony, who don’t have much scope to do the needful,” Kumar said.

“The matter has been raised with the sub-divisional officer (SDO). He even visited the spot where the main sewer line is choked,” Love Raghav, the supervisor of that area, said.

There has been an attempt at de-silting to clear the sewage, but a permanent solution has not been found yet.

“We also need support from residents, who dump their garbage in the sewer due to which it gets choked. I am ready to fork out my own money to get them a new (sewer) line, but the residents also need to be mindful of their responsibilities,” Hemant Kumar, councillor from ward 38 of the MCG, said.

Gopal Kalawat, the executive engineer of MCG, said the process of getting the colony ‘approved’ has been initiated with the Chief Town Planner. “We will also be sending machines and workers to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” Kalawat said.

Residents worst hit by the blocked sewer line said despite paying their bills and taxes on time, they are not being provided with the desired services.

“We cannot go out as dirty water from our toilets, which goes to the sewage, spills out on to the road in front of the colony. The stench is unbearable and our children are falling ill due to the unsanitary surroundings. They have to dip their shoes into the dirty water, thereby exposing them to health risks,” Sonu Kashyap, another resident, said.

“We are ready to cooperate with the authorities to get our colony approved. But will it guarantee an end to our plight?” Kashyap said.

Yashpal Yadav,commissioner, MCG, said the sewer line inside the colony is not maintained by the civic body. He said the MCG is only responsible for ensuring the upkeep of sewer lines leading up to the colony. “We are ready to provide dustbins, if needed, for residents of the colony,” Yadav said.

First Published: Aug 22, 2018 04:16 IST