No check on dumping of waste along expressway in Faridabad has NHAI worried

There seems to be no end to the dumping of waste along the newly built Delhi-Mumbai Expressway passing through the city, even though the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) took up the matter with the district and civic authorities four months ago.

“It’s a matter of concern that the garbage is being dumped on a regular basis at 10-15 points along the 24-km-long passage, posing a grave risk to commuters. Though the civic authorities have been asked to either prevent the dumping of waste or shift the waste transfer stations or dumping points to alternative places, there is no action yet,” an official of the NHAI said on the condition of anonymity.

The NHAI has also flagged the matter of alleged encroachments in the form of shops and slum clusters. The iron railing of the service lane has also been cut or damaged at several places. One of the petrol pumps blocking the service lane passage has not been removed despite several reminders to the authorities concerned, it is claimed.

Besides, the NHAI has sought utilisation certificate from the HSVP regarding the compensatory plantation done for the removal of trees for the Rs 1,729 crore project. The plantation was to be done as part of the compensatory forestry as around 5,700 trees had been removed to pave way for the construction of the expressway, sources in the administration said.

The HSVP, which was sanctioned Rs 5 crore for alternative plantation by the NHAI, is yet to submit the utilisation certificate, the sources said. The money was transferred by the NHAI in March 2022. The state Information Commission had also directed HSVP office here on June 12 to furnish the details of the plantation work to Ajay Bahl, a local resident, who had lodged a complaint for non-furnishing of the details sought by him through an RTI application about two years ago.

Dhiraj Singh, Project Director, NHAI said while the matter of dumping of waste had been taken up with the district authorities,he would have to check the details about the delay in submission of utilisation certificate by the HSVP for the plantation. HSVP officials remained unavailable for their version.

Flags issue of encroachment too

NHAI has also flagged the matter of alleged encroachments in the form of shops and slum clusters. The iron railing of the service lane has also been cut or damaged at several places on the expressway