Garbage piling up, need more than lip service, say Ardee City residents

Gurgaon: Residents of Ardee City have raised concerns over the rampant dumping of construction and demolition waste and other garbage on a 500-metre stretch of the Ambedkar Road. While it has been used as an illegal dump yard for several years now, residents have alleged that during the lockdown, locals and villagers also started dumping their garbage here. Complaints to the authorities have received no response, they said.
"We have been trying to clean the area on our own. During the lockdown, the mess has only increased," said Sachin Kalra, who has been a resident of Ardee City since 2007.
Lack of solid waste management in sectors 52, 55 and 56 is not new; a large number of complaints have been filed with the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), residents said. "This area comes under ward 31 of the MCG but they are doing only lip service. The garbage dumps are everywhere now and a lot of dengue cases have been reported in the society. One can spot a number of stray animals grazing on the garbage right outside gate No. 4 of Ardee City. It’s definitely a concern that MCG during the lockdown was unable to clear this mess and now it has increased manifold. Residents should also be made aware about basic hygiene practices. It’s high time they learn to keep their surroundings clean," he added.
Chaitali Mandhotra, an environmental activist and resident, added: "The dumping ground is right in the heart of the city. How can MCG feign ignorance? How do they not know about it?"
"Even when the AQI of the entire city had improved during the lockdown, the construction dust was visible to the naked eye here. We are a part of the Citizens for Clean Air group and have been actively complaining to MCG about the hazardous conditions we are living in. It’s a pity that we are paying taxes but our administration is inept. Earlier, the waste was limited to the roadsides, but now it is visible on the main road too," said Mandhotra.
MCG officials remained unavailable for comments on the matter.