Rs 149-crore sewerage project awaits completion in historic Badkhal village

Household sewage waste being drained into open drains and waterlogged streets are sights too familiar for the historic village of Badkhal.

It is pertinent to note that an Assembly constituency was carved out and named after Badkhal in 2009.

Unscientific disposal a Health hazard

The unscientific disposal of waste not only gives off a foul smell and causes filthy conditions, but also poses a risk to the health of the area residents. — Sarasmal, Badkhal Resident

Work likely to be completed by month-end

Faridabad Municipal Corporation Executive Engineer Nitin Kadian said the sewerage project is expected to be functional next month as the work of laying and connecting the newly constructed sewer line with the outlet to STP at Bhadshahpur village is likely to be completed by month-end

A project to build a sewage network in the village, estimated to cost about Rs 149 crore, is yet to be completed. Located near the famous Badkhal Lake and just a few km from the Delhi border, the village is grappling with poor civic infrastructure as some 45,000 residents have been releasing sewage waste in the open drain, which has no outlet to another drain or sewer line, it is revealed.

“The unscientific disposal of waste not only gives off a foul smell and causes filthy conditions, but also poses a risk to the health of the area residents,” said Sarasmal, a villager living in Badkhal.

Only about 10,000 households in the village have a septic system to dispose of sewage waste, and most houses dispose of waste in a manner uncharacteristic of a locality that had been part of the Smart City project.

“Filthy conditions due to the lack of a proper drainage system has been a regular feature at the village, where a project for a sewerage and drainage network under the AMRUT-1 project was launched in 2018,” rued Shakil, another resident.

“This problem prevails despite the village being a vital part of the Assembly segment named after it,” said resident Bir Singh.

Promises of a state-of-the-art infrastructure at the village have been presented to the residents before every election so far, Singh added.

Despite the village having been included in the civic limits in 1994, its infrastructure has failed to get upgraded.

Residential colonies have, however, come up on village land, given its close proximity to the national capital.

Absence of facilities such as a health centre, dispensary, park and a community centre adds to the woes of the residents.

Faridabad Municipal Corporation Executive Engineer Nitin Kadian said the sewerage project is expected to be functional next month as the work of laying and connecting the newly constructed sewer line with the outlet to STP at Bhadshahpur village is likely to be over by the end of the month. Local MLA Danesh Adlakha remained unavailable for a comment about the issue.