DLF CITY, one of the most posh colonies of Gurgaon, has been going through its worst nightmare for the past three years, due to the nearby garbage dumping site. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) dumps more than 300 tonnes of the city’s garbage into the Aravalis everyday within 500 metres of DLF Phase I and DLF Phase IV.

The DLF residents have already staged a number of demonstrations against the illegal dumping of garbage on Gurgaon-Faridabad road.
“Residents are already suffering from various skin allergies and cases of dengue are also being reported frequently from the area,” informed Harish Capoor, who is a resident of DLF Phase I and has been fighting against this menace for more than two years now.

Capoor also said that he had filed various RTI petitions and met many HUDA officials, but all in vain. He said that in spite of assurances from the authorities, nothing has been done about it. Capoor informed that the residents are again planning a protest rally at 9am at Gurgaon-Faridabad Chowk near the illegal garbage dump on September 22.

“More than 100 people are expected to participate in the protest,” said PN Raina, secretary, Silver Oaks Condominium Association. Raina also informed that various retired IAS officers, corporate honchos, IT professionals and academicians have already expressed their interest to join the rally.

A number of stray animals, like cows, pigs and dogs have also triggered a threat of diseases and road-accidents. According to Ramesh, senior supervisor, Silver Oaks Apartments, DLF, “People are constantly living under threat of dengue, malaria and waterborne diseases. ” If sources are to be believed, the property rates in the area has also seen serious implications of this site. According to a local resident, “People now think twice before buying a house in DLF.”

Meanwhile, HUDA has assured that a state-of the-art waste management facility will come up in Bhandwari village, 10 kms from the current dumping site, within one and a half years. But the DLF residents say the construction of the project has not yet started. HUDA has deployed a heavy-duty earth moving machine to cover the garbage with sand and bacterial sprays are being used to negate the foul smell and bad effects of the dump.