Richmond Park sewage story is stinking

For six months now, residents of Richmond Park and Regency Park-1 in DLF City are compelled to breathe foul air and live in unhygienic conditions, thanks to the government’s inaction over an overflowing drain near the complex. HT reports.

For six months now, residents of Richmond Park and Regency Park-1 in DLF City are compelled to breathe foul air and live in unhygienic conditions, thanks to the government’s inaction over an overflowing drain near the complex.

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Residents fear the sewage water may contaminate their tap water supply, thus putting their lives in danger.

People say they have kept their windows and balcony doors locked for more than six months now.

The volume of stagnant water in the open drain along the upscale residential complex has been increasing by the day while authorities have turned a deaf ear to complaints.

“We fear that the stagnant water will soon contaminate our groundwater supply as our pumps are close to the site. The problem has been there for months but has become worse. Surprisingly, health department officials who visited the site early this month gave it a green signal saying the drain is unfit for breeding of mosquitoes,” said NC Sinha, president, Richmond and Regency Park RWA.

Officials from the health department (malaria division), who visited this one-km long drain on April 1 wrote in their report, “The drain is not fit for breeding of mosquitoes as it is covered with fungus and there is no use of treating the drain.”

Residents, however, have a different story to tell. Barun Dhanot, a resident, claimed, “Our homes were free of mosquitoes earlier. This is the first time we are encountering the problem with the onset of the summer season.”

Nearly 42 families on the eastern side of E-block are the worst affected. Residents said the situation is getting worse as the death of pigs due to drowning in the drain has added to the stench.

They also allege that the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has not taken any action despite the local RWA’s repeated complaints.

Huda administrator Nitin K Yadav said the problem of sewage water congregation will be over in New Gurgaon areas by April 30 as work on the master sewerage line of the city would be completed by then.