Gurgaon: Sushant Lok 1 residents protest lack of basic infrastructure

Sushant Lok –1 is a 25-year-old licensed colony developed by Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd under the Haryana Development & Regulation of Urban Areas Act.

Hundreds of residents protested for four hours in Sushant Lok 1 on Sunday against broken roads, electricity issues and waterlogging. The residents of also joined the protest as they are facing similar problems.

A broken road in Sushant Lok I, Gurgaon. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photot)

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is yet to take over maintenance of the area as the developer has not obtained completion certificate till date. Delay in handing over the colony by the developer to the MCG as the major concern of the
residents.

Sushant Lok –1 is a 25-year-old licensed colony developed by Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd under the Haryana Development & Regulation of Urban Areas Act.

Residents alleged that the condition of the colony road is in a pathetic condition, and water and electricity supply are erratic. Several residents met with accidents because of the pothole-riddled roads.

Despite regular follow ups with the authorities and the developer, their grievances have not had a solution for more than two years.

“We want our voice to be heard by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar as we are living in miserable conditions with no basic infrastructure. The government has to deliver on their pending promise and take over the private colonies. Sushant Lok 1 is in such a shoddy condition that taxis drivers and rickshaw pullers refuse to come into the colony,” Neelu Sharma, president of Residents United — a pressure group working in Gurgaon — said.

The director general of town and country planning, Haryana, had issued an order on February 8, 2016, asking the MCG to take over the colony on ‘as is where is basis’.

“I have been living in Sushant Lok for the last 14 years but the current situation is the worst. After the reshuffling of officials in January, we met new municipal commissioner V Umashankar on February 2, but nothing concrete was assured. We were told of a legal lacuna which should be addressed by the town planning because of which the MCG is unable to take over the colony,” S Subramaniam, a resident, said.

Residents had also met Haryana cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh on February 11. He had assured them to discuss their issue in the cabinet meeting.

“We have sent the proposal to the government, and, now, the decision will be taken in Chandigarh. The estimate of development work has already been made for the colonies, including Sushant Lok 1, South City 1 and 2 and Palam Vihar, and work will start as soon we take over,” a senior MCG official said.

Residents said if their demands were not met, they will hold bigger protests in which
residents of other colonies will also join.