‘Sewage still flows into storm drain’ despite HC order to stop it

  • | Monday | 24th September, 2018

We carry out an inspection sometime soon following which appropriate action will be taken,” Umashankar said. “It’s a six-year-old order and my team is not aware of the details. However it’s been six years, but the situation remains the same,” said Lajpat Gupta, a resident of the area.According to the residents, in 2004, the industrial waste from Udyog Vihar industrial area started coming into the stormwater drain.“We approached the authorities, but despite several requests no action was taken. Finally we filed a petition in court, following which the groundwater was tested and the results revealed high levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium in the water,” said Shilpa Chouhan, a lawyer living in the area.Though a green belt has been developed covering the stormwater drain, when TOI visited the area on Sunday the sewage stench was prevalent in the air. When Huda officials were approached for a comment on the matter, they claimed that they were unaware about the issue as GMDA is incharge of the sewage lines in the area.However, GMDA chief V Umashankar said that he was informed about the issue just last week when a group of residents met him.

GURUGRAM: Despite the Punjab and Haryana high court order issuing an order in 2012, asking Huda officials to ensure that sewage is not released into the stormwater drain in Palam Vihar, residents allege that it continues unabated.The Palam Vihar RWA recently reminded the authorities, including GMDA and the developer, about the court order and informed them that sewage lines were directly connected to the stormwater drain hence polluting the groundwater and posing a threat to the health of the residents.“In 2012, the then Huda chief engineer had submitted an affidavit in court that said that within two months the sewerage line would be shifted restricting the discharge of sewage in the stormwater drain. However it’s been six years, but the situation remains the same,” said Lajpat Gupta, a resident of the area.According to the residents, in 2004, the industrial waste from Udyog Vihar industrial area started coming into the stormwater drain.“We approached the authorities, but despite several requests no action was taken. Finally we filed a petition in court, following which the groundwater was tested and the results revealed high levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium in the water,” said Shilpa Chouhan, a lawyer living in the area.Though a green belt has been developed covering the stormwater drain, when TOI visited the area on Sunday the sewage stench was prevalent in the air. When Huda officials were approached for a comment on the matter, they claimed that they were unaware about the issue as GMDA is incharge of the sewage lines in the area.However, GMDA chief V Umashankar said that he was informed about the issue just last week when a group of residents met him. “It’s a six-year-old order and my team is not aware of the details. We carry out an inspection sometime soon following which appropriate action will be taken,” Umashankar said.

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