Warnings ignored, illegal dumping of construction debris continues unabated

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 24

For over two months, residents near the Mayur Vihar Extension Metro station have been waking up to the unsightly view of large piles of debris near their homes. Construction waste from nearby sites is being dumped on land belonging to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, located near a residential society.

Ironically, the debris is being dumped right behind a department sign that warns against illegal dumping and the associated fines. The sign reads: “As per the orders of the National Green Tribunal, dumping garbage, construction debris, or any other kind of waste is a criminal offence. Anyone caught dumping waste in this area will be fined between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000.”

The area is one of the most sought-after residential complexes in East Delhi, yet waste material continues to be dumped under the Mayur Vihar Extension Metro line, posing both environmental and health risks to residents of nearby localities.

A visit to the site by this correspondent revealed that heaps of debris have accumulated right behind a warning board from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which clearly states that illegal dumping in the area is prohibited.

Speaking to The Tribune, Girish Arora, a resident of Nirman Apartments, said, “There are 10-12 trolleys operating in the area that charge Rs 700 per trolley to remove construction waste from the societies. The residential societies have mandated that construction debris should not be left in public areas. However, there is no check on this rampant practice.”

These trolleys are unregistered and dump the waste on the department land, leaving the area unclean, he added.

Residents have been raising the issue with civic authorities for the past two months, but no action has been taken. A road divides two municipal wards — Trilokpuri and Patparganj —and the waste is being dumped in the Patparganj ward. Renu Chaudhary, the ward councillor from the BJP, said, “Since the land falls under the Irrigation Department, cleanliness is not the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.” The municipal corporation, like the Delhi Government, is led by the AAP.

Another society resident shared additional concerns: “The area behind our society has become unhygienic, and with the monsoon season upon us, snakes have started entering homes. Several residents have encountered snakes as long as four to five feet.”

He added: “By evening, several street vendors set up food stalls, and people gather to eat while consuming liquor on the road, creating safety concerns for the elderly, women and children. Moreover, the streetlights have not been working for the past two years.”