Most polluted tag forces residents to set up panels

Gurgaon: A day after Gurgaon was declared the most polluted city, Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) and civil society groups have decided to form committees and set up a rapid action task force to implement several measures in an attempt to curb pollution in the area.
The residents are connecting through calls and texts. Many have asked owners of under-construction structures to use water hose pipes at the sites. Some have proposed plantation drives. Park Place in Sector 54 will celebrate green Holi this month and the residents of Wellington Estate in DLF 5 have announced an initiative called “lets-not-drive day” once a week. Mahindra Aura, Palam Vihar residents said they have passed resolutions against garbage burning at green areas along the Dwarka Expressway. In Sushant Lok and South City, residents have taken it upon themselves to enforce NGT norms on construction site owners.

“We have informed all residents in the society through mails and also sent communications discouraging garbage burning in the area,” said Yashish Yadav, president, RWA, Mahindra Lifespaces Aura, Palam Vihar. “We need to take this battle in our own hands. Authorities have turned out to be incapable to control the rising tide of pollution, which has adversely impacted our lives. Garbage burning is a common problem here. It happens more near Sectors 83, 84, 103, 106 and 106. People from societies along the Dwarka e-way and the villagers living in the vicinity are doing it. We are planning to keep that in check.”

Residents and RWA members said that significant action must be taken at the RWA level. “We form the basic building block in the city,” said H S Nanda, president RWA, Sector 14. “We have administrative control over our respective jurisdictions. If we bring the pollution under check from our ends, it will have an effect. Such kind of realignment of purpose will go a long way in improving pollution levels. From our sector, we have announced a fresh plantation drive. We are starting with Neta Ji Subash Chandra Park.”

Earlier, TOI had reported that Gurgaon had only three days of cleaner air in 2018.

The RWA of Wellington Estate has announced “lets-not-drive day” once a week. “We have just put forward the proposal. We are sincerely hoping that most residents will respond positively,” said Vineet Bagga, president, RWA, Wellington. “We have also installed an air monitoring device at the condominium.”

Park Place residents said they have decided to celebrate green Holi this time. “The colours that we are using are going to be organic,” said Yogesh Saini, a local resident.

In Sectors 5, 3 and 6, the RWA has decided to limit the number of cars. “The households that own multiple cars will have to limit the use,” said Dinesh Vashishta, the RWA president. “It is better if one or two cars are used instead of so many.”