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Trees to stay, Huda to clean up drain
Bowing to public pressure, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has finally decided to clean the drain in DLF Phase-4.
Bowing to public pressure, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has finally decided to clean the drain in DLF Phase-4.
A meeting was held with officials of the Gurgaon forest department to prepare a plan.
The drain separates gated township Garden Villa and Richmond Park and poses a serious health hazard for people apart from harming the environment.
“We held a meeting with Huda officials over removing trees which have grown in the drain over the years. The trees, as we suggested, cannot be cut. Rather, they can be uprooted and re-planted somewhere else,” said Devender Rao, district range officer (forest), Gurgaon.
“Since trees are not allowed to be axed, the need of the hour is to clean the drain. The trees obstruct the smooth flow of water, so re-plantation is the best possible way out. Huda officials have assured to do the same,” said Rao.
The forest department has also asked the civic agency to count the trees first and submit a re-plantation plan to them.
It remains to be seen, however, if cleaning serves the purpose and ensures smooth flow as the drain is blocked from two sides due to construction of culverts.
Residents feel it may be only a temporary solution. “The drain has been neglected by both the forest department and Huda. Officials never bothered to clean it despite repeated reminders by us,” said RS Rathee, president, Gurgaon Citizens’ Council.
“We will certainly improve the drain's condition in cooperation with forest officials,” said Haridatt Sharma, Huda executive engineer.
