Gurugram residents block Khandsa Road to protest against sewage overflow

Residents alleged that despite complaining to MCG officials several times, nothing has been done to contain the sewer water

Updated on: May 8, 2023, 23:26:58 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Gurugram: Residents of at least four colonies in Sector 11 staged a protest against the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) over sewage overflow and blocked the Khandsa Road on Monday.

Residents alleged that despite complaining to MCG officials several times, nothing has been done to contain the sewer water.

Residents blocked the road for two hours, leading to disruption in vehicular movement following which traffic police personnel were called to the spot. They assured the protesting residents that the matter will be resolved at the earliest.

Dharam Prakash, one of the protesters, said residents have been facing a harrowing time due to the accumulation of sewer water on roads across Sector 11. “We are unable to move out of the house due to the present situation and the area keeps stinking all the time. It has become difficult to open the windows of the house. Many people in the area have fallen ill due to the unhygienic surroundings,” he said.

Another protester who identified himself as Paramjeet Singh, alleged that foul smell was emanating from the area due to the accumulation of sewer water and it has become a health hazard. “MCG officials have turned a blind-eye and nothing has been done from their end to end our ordeal. Sewer water is entering our houses. We were left with no option but to stage a protest on the streets. Drinking water is also getting contaminated,” he said.

MCG commissioner PC Meena said the matter has come to the notice of the civic body and action is being taken. “I have directed teams to visit the area and resolve the issue at the earliest. We will address the plight of the residents and all blocked drains will be cleaned on a regular basis,” he said.

Police said they received information about the protest after the Khandsa Road was blocked and a team from Shivaji Nagar police station was sent to the spot. “We diverted the traffic and the situation was normal after a couple of hours,” said a traffic police officer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More