Gurugram, Faridabad gasp for air, but MLAs unmoved

While 14 districts of the state struggle with one of the worst 'airpocalypse', the crisis has failed to get any attention in the Vidhan Sabha session that concluded on Tuesday.

Residents of glitzy NCR districts of Gurugram and Faridabad, who have four ministers from the area, are up in arms for the failure of their public representatives to even acknowledge or raise the issue in the House, let alone find a solution.

Gurugramars are taking to social media to vent their anger against Gurgaon MLA Mukesh Sharma and Badshahpur MLA Rao Narbir, who, ironically, is also the state Environment Minister, for being silent while the city seeks the ‘right to breathe’.

The residents are posting smog pictures and videos, from affordable housing areas to Rs 100-crore luxury societies, highlighting how even money can’t buy good air in Gurugram. The average air quality of the cities remains 'very poor' and has slipped to 'severe' in many parts over the past four days.

Pollution Control Board teams cite dust pollution by construction activities, construction and waste dumping, tattered roads, waste burning and vehicular emissions as key reasons.

“The city is seeking the right to breathe. It's shocking that MLAs who made tall promises of eradicating civic crises are silent. There is chaos and GRAP is failing, but who cares?” said city-based environmentalist Vaishali Rana Chandra.

“People have trusted them for the third term and annual pollution resolution was one of the key expectations of Gurugram. Everybody was expecting both star MLAs of the city to raise the issue in the Assembly and get the government to act. This year, basic steps like getting smog guns, etc., are also not being taken and people have been left to fend for themselves,” said Praveen Malik of the United Association of New Gurugram.

Jitender Bhadana of the Save Aravali Trust, while speaking to The Tribune, said pollution crises was being worsened by political patronage and it's time the ministers and MLAs walked the talk.

“In Gurugram and Faridabad, the major reasons behind pollution is waste burning, construction, tattered roads and the dying Aravallis. The new government was quick to make progress on the much-opposed Aravalli safari and waste-to-charcoal plant, but has not cared to say a word on C and D waste dumping , deterioration of Aravallis, illegal crushers, etc,” he said.

While Mukesh Sharma, Gurugram MLA, was unavailable for comments, Rao Narbir said, "Yes, the issue is too grave in our cities of Gurugram and Faridabad, and it's true the issue is not getting resolved. We got in touch with a Bengaluru firm to get artificial rain, but they said weather conditions were not apt. We are waiting for the Maharashtra elections to get over, and I will meet the Union Environment Minister to get some experts to work out a solution.”

Nothing but 'jumlas'

“The pollution crises is the failure of the 10-year rule of the 'double-engine' BJP government in the state. The BJP MLAs from Gurugram had given 'jumlas' about improving the quality of life, but are silent now. MLA Mukesh Sharma had announced that he would change the city’s fate in 100 days. Over 30 days have passed, but we are yet to see any changes.”

— Ashish Dua, AICC national secretary