A couple of days after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) complained to the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram (MCG), about garbage and C&D waste being dumped on the sides of Dwarka Expressway, a thick smoke engulfed the area near Kherki Daula village in front of the Shani temple on Tuesday afternoon that emanated from the burning of garbage.
The smoke rising from the garbage caused trouble to commuters, especially those riding the two wheelers. The exact cause of fire in could not be ascertained immediately, but it is believed that it could be an act of ‘mischief’ by someone. The smoke, which was emanating from the fire, was visible from a distance on the expressway.
Vijay Yadav, a resident of Kherki Daula village, said the incident had occurred due to the recklessness of the local administration and the civic authorities.
“We have been complaining about the unauthorised dumping of garbage on the sides of Dwarka Expressway for the past couple of months, but no has taken note of it,” he alleged.
After a gap of three weeks, the air pollution had decreased in the past two days, but the fire incident brought no relief to the nearby residents and daily commuters, he added.
The locals alleged that the garbage and C&D waste was illegally dumped on the sides of expressway at night. Trucks/trailers and tractor-trailers come under the garb of darkness and dumped the waste here, they added.
According to the locals, several tonnes of garbage and debris are also lying near Elan Mall located in Sector 84 on the outskirts of Gurugram. On December 4, the MCG constituted a Sanitation Security Force (SSF) to stop the unauthorised dumping of waste in vacant plots and along the roads, but the illegal practice is still going on.