Ecogreen staff claim attack over waste burning in Gurugram

In the complaint, it has been alleged that one Izarul, who drives a door-to-door garbage collection vehicle of Ecogreen Energy’s, was abducted by an unauthorised waste collector from Behrampur on August 15, near Sikanderpur Metro station.

Officials of Ecogreen Energy, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram’s concessionaire for waste management, alleged that one of their truck drivers was abducted and beaten by an unauthorised waste collector from Behrampur on August 15.

The revelations come two days after complaints were raised against Ecogreen for allegedly burning waste in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region. (HT Picture for representation)

A police complaint (a copy of which is with the Hindustan Times) has been filed at the DLF 2 police station but an FIR is yet to be filed.

In the complaint, it has been alleged that one Izarul, who drives a door-to-door garbage collection vehicle of Ecogreen Energy’s, was abducted by an unauthorised waste collector from Behrampur on August 15, near Sikanderpur Metro station, while transporting garbage to Ecogreen’s transfer station in Beri Bagh.

“The accused forcefully took Izarul and his vehicle to Ghata, where he thrashed him and burnt the garbage,” Ecogreen alleged in a press release.

These revelations came two days after complaints were raised against Ecogreen for allegedly burning waste in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region. Photographs showing a group of four men standing beside an Ecogreen mini truck, setting fire to municipal waste, began circulating widely across city WhatsApp groups on Thursday, August 16, eliciting outrage from residents and activists.

At the time, Ankit Aggarwal, the chief executive officer of Ecogreen Energy, said, “There seems to be some mala fide intention in doing this… we have set up an enquiry and will take stern action against the people who are found guilty.” Izarul filed a police complaint the following day, on August 17.

Since Ecogreen Energy took over waste management duties from the MCG in September 2017, it has had a monopoly on the collection of waste in Gurugram, a prospect that threatens the livelihood of independent collectors and recyclers who were previously managing the city’s waste.

“Some waste collectors who were contracted by the MCG have now been absorbed by Ecogreen, but many unauthorised garbage collectors continue to operate across the city. There is always trash waiting to be collected from somewhere,” said an independent waste collector from Chakkarpur, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The latest development, according to Ecogreen Energy, is that they have got to the bottom of the waste burning ‘controversy’. Referring to the incident as an “out of vengeance act”, a company official said, “The photographs which the accused took of the burning trash and Ecogreen vehicle were later circulated in media to malign the company’s image.”

Hindustan Times was not able to independently verify the versions of either Izarul or the accused, since their phone numbers, as provided in the police complaint, were unavailable since Sunday.

Activists and residents, however, are more concerned about the ecological damage caused by the events than their logistics. “The issue of waste dumping and burning in the Aravallis has become increasingly rampant, and despite making repeated requests to authorities that this area should be better protected, nothing has been done,” said environmentalist Sharmila Kaushik, a resident of Gwal Pahari.

MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav did not respond to requests for comment.