‘Area near IAF depot turning into urban slum’

The members of Gurgaon Citizens’ Council on Sunday wrote a letter to Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, highlighting the problems faced by residents living within the 900m radius of the Air Force ammunition depot.

The members of Gurgaon Citizens’ Council on Sunday wrote a letter to Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, highlighting the problems faced by residents living within the 900m radius of the Air Force ammunition depot.

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The letter, a copy of which was also sent to Gurgaon deputy commissioner PC Meena, pointed out lack of basic civic amenities such as electricity, water and sewage system in the 11,347 unauthorised households and commercial establishments within the 900m radius.

The district town planning department (enforcement) keeps razing new constructions and threaten to disconnect power connection, the letter said.

“This discrimination is turning these households into a huge urban slum. These colonies have not been approved just because they fall in the 900m radius of the ammunition depot,” said RS Rathee, president, Gurgaon Citizen’s Council.

The 900m radius of the Air Force station is spread across 2,323 acres of land, out of which 662 acres still needs to be approved.

The remaining 1,661 acres comprise Huda sectors 12A, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 23A, Udyog Vihar Phase IV and Maruti Udyog.

“All these sectors are approved areas and Huda provides them with basic amenities such as water, electricity, sewerage and all municipal services,” explained Rathee.

The unauthorised areas include colonies such as Amanpura, Old Gurgaon, Rajiv Nagar West, Sanjay Gram, Sheetla Colony, Palam Vihar Extension and part of Sukhrali Village, among other localities.