GURUGRAM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and others regarding a proposed construction and demolition (C&D) waste collection center in Sector 106.
The NGT’s notices, which also addressed the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), were prompted by a petition from the Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Development Association (DXP-GDA). They challenged the facility’s location in Babupur, arguing that it is being developed without sufficient infrastructure to control dust.
The case was heard on May 29, with updates published on Thursday by a bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad. The tribunal instructed the applicant to serve copies of the petition and file an affidavit of service ahead of the next hearing, scheduled for September 10.
Local residents have voiced concerns that the facility will be situated too close to homes and a nursery school, violating environmental regulations. They argue that the proposed site does not meet the siting criteria outlined in the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, which stipulate that such facilities should be positioned away from residential areas, forests, and water bodies.
Siting criteria encompass environmental, regulatory, technical, and infrastructure requirements essential for identifying suitable locations for industries and waste facilities. Adhering to these criteria is vital for minimizing environmental and social impacts while ensuring accessibility to necessary services.
Representing the applicant, advocates Yash Varmani, Seema Nain, and Srishti Singh informed the tribunal that a residential community lies about 30 meters from the site. They also highlighted the proximity of a nursery school, raising concerns over potential adverse effects on children and nearby residents due to dust and pollution.
Evidence presented included photographs showing that the access road to the site is unpaved, producing dust clouds as vehicles pass through. Residents pointed out that a drain directly in front of the facility appears to be used as an entryway for vehicles.
The challenge revolves around Schedule I of the C&D Waste Management Rules, with the petitioners asserting that the site and access arrangements contradict provisions requiring facilities to be distanced from residential areas and to have paved access to reduce dust generation.
Sunny Daultabad, convener of DXP-GDA, remarked to TOI, “Establishing a C&D waste station right next to residential Sector 106 and Daultabad village presents a substantial risk to public health and the environment. We’ve seen the mismanagement at the existing plant just a few kilometers away in Basai, which severely affects residents in Sector 102. The Dwarka Expressway area currently struggles with critical air quality issues. This development threatens to further compromise the health of thousands instead of enhancing the livability of designated residential zones. Such facilities should be strictly distanced from habitations.”
This dispute has arisen within one of Gurgaon’s rapidly developing sectors along the Dwarka Expressway corridor, where residential growth has surged in recent years.
