MCG doesn’t respond, RWA cleans trash site on its own

GURUGRAM: Sector 5 residents came together and cleaned up an illegal garbage dumping site, along a Huda sector road, after authorities failed to address the issue.
A group of 15 residents cleared a plot measuring 1,000 square yards, which had been sold to an individual by Huda and was being used as a dumping site for the past one year. Some residents from nearby colonies allegedly dumped household waste at the site.

The residents’ welfare association (RWA) of the area organised the drive. “As the site is close to the Sector 5 police station and along the Huda sector road, it had become an eyesore for commuters. Morning walkers, who visit the Sector 5 park, had to bear with its stench, every day. On the other hand, the site was posing health hazards. We lodged several complaints with the authorities but no action was taken. We, therefore, decided to encourage residents to clean it up,” said Dinesh Vashisht, the RWA president, sectors 3, 5 and 6.

“We started around 7am on Monday and worked till 10am. By Wednesday, we had managed to clear the entire area,” said Subhash Jain, a resident. Two truckloads of household waste was collected in the drive.

Residents said that they had to take matters into their hands due to rising health concerns. “The site had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies, posing health hazard to residents. This year, many of us suffered from dengue and typhoid. So, we had to take action,” said Sushant Kumar, a resident.

RWA members demanded regular waste collection to prevent further dumping at the site. “The cause of illegal dumping is irregular waste collection,” said Vashisht.

An MCG official said, “Residents did raise concerns over the issue. The corporation cleared the site twice and also directed the waste collection company to pick up garbage on a regular basis. However, the dumping continued.”

Nearly 20,000 people live in sectors 3, 5 and 6 and nearby colonies.