Rainfall exposes poor sewage system in Gurugram, residents seek permanent fix

Recent rainfall here, combined with chilly weather, has highlighted the poor state of the city’s sanitation system, with residents across multiple sectors reporting severe sewage overflow and water stagnation on roads, vacant plots and green belts.

Local residents have raised concerns over the persistent sewage problems, calling on the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to find a permanent solution. The problems, they say, are not only a nuisance but also pose significant health risks.

Prakash Lamba, president of the Residents Welfare Association of Sector 21, described the situation on the main road leading to Sector 21, where a large section of the road is submerged in filthy water, possibly from a sewage line leak. “From Sector 21 market to Sector 22, around 400-m road is covered with sewer sludge, which is being splashed by moving vehicles and entering nearby homes,” Lamba said. He added this is a recurring problem, with multiple complaints made to MCG, but no effective action has been taken.

In Begampur Khatola, Ward 26, Shrawan Singh reported similar problems on the main road of his area, despite Rs 2-crore investment by the civic body in road repairs. “MCG should construct a proper drain along the road to solve the problem permanently,” he said.

In Sector 82, Lokesh Yadav highlighted how roads in the area, home to 5,000 residents, are frequently flooded with sewage water even after light rain. He suspects the problem stems from overflowing sewage lines.

Sooraj Mal Yadav, a resident of Sector 52, said overflowing sewage from manholes is a daily problem in his area. “The sewage lines are very old and need to be replaced with larger pipes to accommodate the volume,” he argued, urging the authorities to take action.

In South City Part 1, Captain Raj Chopra (retd), president of the Residents Welfare Association, explained sewage lines often become blocked for days, with MCG workers clearing the blockages temporarily. However, the problem keeps recurring and he lamented the civic body had failed to provide a permanent solution despite repeated requests.

The persistent leakage and overflow of sewage lines have become an ongoing problem across the city, as evidenced by the over 300 complaints received by the MCG during recent ‘Samadhan Shivirs’ (grievance redress camps). Of these, only 76 complaints have been resolved, indicating a slow response from the authorities.

MCG Commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg has repeatedly instructed officials to prioritise resolving sewage problem, but sources within the MCG point to a lack of infrastructure as a major barrier to providing a permanent solution.

In response, an MCG spokesman said several tenders have been issued in the past few weeks for the hiring of super sucker machines, jetting machines and the laying of new pipelines. These measures are expected to address the ongoing sewage problem. “We hope the concerns of local residents regarding sewage problems will be permanently resolved within the next two to three months,” the spokesman said.

As the rainy season continues, residents remain hopeful that the MCG would act swiftly to ensure the city’s sanitation problems are addressed once and for all.