Swamp in front of Woodshire poses health risks, residents fume

Gurgaon: M3M Woodshire is a swanky condominium near Dwarka Expressway in Sector 107 but residents have been complaining about a two-acre swamp in front of it since they moved in their apartments. According to residents, garbage has piled up around the swamp in such a way that it now appears to have formed an embankment.
Spread over 30 acres, Woodshire has more than 900 flats, out of which only 200 are currently occupied. “I have been seeing this swamp since I shifted to my flat in July 2018. My flat faces the swamp, which is located in front of the township,” said Sudhir Bhatnagar, a resident. TOI toured the township and found the large swamp, which has stinky water, trash and swamp vegetation. “The swamp poses a health hazard for residents. Last year, we had up to 5- 6 dengue cases here,” Bhatnagar added.

Residents said that they had been told by the developer that the swamp was under private jurisdiction and a road would be constructed on it. “We were also told that Experion Developers was building a property there and so we thought the swamp would be absorbed into their estate but that never happened,” said Ashok Yadav, another resident. Residents mentioned a number of problems that have arisen because of the swamp. “Dharampur village is located in the vicinity of the swamp. The villagers channel all their sewage and waste into this swamp, further complicating the situation. The discharges lead to squalid conditions and growth of vegetation in the swamp, leading to favourable conditions for breeding of mosquitoes. It is a total disaster for us. Those who live below the 10th floor have thousands of mosquitoes humming outside their doors and windows, every day. We can’t even open our doors and windows,” said Santosh, another resident.

Another resident said that the water in the swamp had been stagnant and during monsoon, the water came up to the gate of the township. “It brings all the filth right here. During winter, the water starts to recede but the stink we deal with is horrible,” said Somesh Kumar Kashyap, a resident. Many residents also expressed concerns over the safety of children. “All school buses stop next to the swamp and children have to deboard here. If only the government makes a sewage line for the Dharampur villagers, their waste would not end up here and we would have less problems.”

Bhatnagar said that he filed a complaint in the matter on the CM’s Window, as well. “We filed a complaint on October 11 but since then, it has been moving between the MCG, the DTP and the CM’s office. We want immediate redressal of this matter as this pertains to our health and overall living conditions. During monsoon, it becomes an issue of life and death because of water-borne diseases,” he said.

A senior official from M3M Developers told TOI that the land belonged to the panchayat. “There is a village in the vicinity and the land belongs to them. We have been in talks with the villagers to get the matter resolved. Previously, they agreed to fill up the land but the work was stalled during monsoon. It will resume soon,” he added.