Squatters, trash clog community centre site, Sector 14 residents fume

GURUGRAM: Residents of Sector 14 have expressed concerns about the lack of a community centre in the area. According to them, a community centre built earier, which was around 40 years old, was razed in January after the government authorities promised to build a new centre in 2014.
Instead of construction, however, a part of the site has allegedly been encroached upon by HSVP to build quarters for its staffers. The rest of the plot has become a dumpyard, residents said. With the onset of the monsoon, residents have expressed fears of the site becoming a health hazard.
Kalyan Singh Sharma, a resident and retired IRS officer who filed an RTI application on the issue, said Rs 11.2 crore was set aside for the construction of a new building, according to an the response to his query in April 2018. “To sanction a project is one thing, but to get it implemented is another. Over four months have passed after the tender for the project was awarded. Though the old community centre building has been demolished, construction work has not yet started and the whole area is a dumpyard now. The garbage emanates a foul smell and coupled with rains, is a hazard,” he said.
He added, “As per the ground plan, construction has to start on the whole area. But HSVP staffers have encroached on a part of the plot and the authorities appear to be in no mood to get the land freed and begin construction. All residents want the community centre to be built soon, as there is no other place for holding social functions in the area.”
“It’s a failure on part of the local bodies. MCG claims it cannot develop the area because of HSVP encroachment. When we approach them personally, they give us assurances that it will be cleared at the earliest, but nothing has been done. The community centre was demolished almost half a year ago back but the debris is still lying around,” said Hoshiyar Singh, another resident.
Now, Ecogreen and even some residents have started dumping waste at the plot, residents said. “Illegal and damaged vehicles are parked here, sweepers and residents dump waste here. We have raised the issue with Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh in a meeting too. The MCG commissioner has been apprised of the situation through several emails and letters. The vested interests of some officials is delaying the project,” a resident added under condition of anonymity.
“When the old building was there, we at least had a place to hold meetings. The situation has deteriorated after it was razed. MCG personnel have come and cleaned the area of garbage on a few occasions, but the problem persists,” Sector 14 RWA president H S Nanda said.
MCG officials were unavailable for comments despite attempts by TOI.