Nullahs in Aravalis filled with C&D waste to make way for farmhouses

GURUGRAM: A number of natural drains flowing through the rocky terrains of the eco-fragile Aravali foothills near DLF-3 have been filled with construction and demolition (C&D) waste over the past six-seven years to build an access road to farmhouses, temples, dairy farms and labour colonies illegally constructed on the green belt of the biodiversity park, TOI has learnt.

A wall built by the MCG to protect the area has been broken and encroachments are growing by the day, thanks to an entrenched nexus between land grabbers, few “influential” locals and the area councillor. A number of borewells have also been installed in the area to exploit the groundwater, despite a ban on the same.

Residents say their repeated complaints, to the authorities — from PMO to the chief minister’s office — over the years have only fallen on deaf ears. “We first raised the issue of encroachment and the illegal road construction with the MCG in 2014. Subsequently, we wrote several letters to the civic body, but no concrete action has been taken,” said Sunny, a local resident.

In 2016, when the residents approached the PMO, the MCG claimed they had tried to block the road multiple times but had to give up due to stiff resistance from locals. The next year, residents wrote to the Haryana DGP. Subsequently, MCG carried out limited demolition in the area, but kept the illegal access road untouched. But the illegal structures returned soon.

“Dumping of C&D waste has been done since 2013 by local goons and land mafia to level the area of the Aravali Biodiversity Park,” said Reema, a resident of DLF-3. “Apart from permanent structures like the farmhouses, multiple dhobhi ghats and cattle sheds have also come up in the area in the past six-seven years. All our complaints to CM windows were also closed arbitrarily.”

According to the NGT, dumping waste anywhere in the Aravalis is a clear violation of rules. The tribunal, in 2016, had clearly said if anyone was found to be throwing waste in the Aravalis, the vehicle should be seized and a penalty of Rs 5,000 should be imposed.

It may be mentioned here that in 2019, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) conducted a survey of the area and confirmed that there was no revenue road in the area. TOI has a copy of the MCG map which shows these areas as green belts.

“Everyone given an opportunity wants to encroach upon the public land. The only way we will be able to protect areas under our control is by keeping an eye and continuously repairing fences. We have to take a call on how we want to protect these areas,” said Latika Thukral of I AM Gurugram, an NGO taking care of the biodiversity park.

Shab Ram (popular as Neelu Sarpanch), MCG councillor, however, said around 75 acres of land are under private ownership and they have permission for installing borewells from MCG. “Chakbandi has not been done on Nathupur so there are no roads in revenue records. A road is proposed through the area,” he said. But he admitted to having dumped solid waste on his farmhouse for agriculture purposes.

MCG commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said that dumping C&D waste even on private land is not permissible and the civic body will inspect the area and issue fines.

“Any kind of construction even on private land without our approval is illegal. Teams from MCG will inspect the area to check the illegal construction and encroachment on the government land or on the biodiversity land. Even MCG councillors or officials will face action if they are found to be involved,” he said.