Specialists talk about health risks of obesity

The main roads in Sectors 78 and 79 of Manesar Township in the district are in a deteriorated condition, causing rising dust levels that have worsened the local air quality.

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Local residents claim the dust from these roads creates a haze that lingers above the broken surfaces, spreading over long distances with the wind. They say this makes it difficult for them to walk without covering their noses and mouths.

Dhirendra Singh, an activist from the local residents’ welfare association, alleged the road, which was built just a few months ago ahead of the G-20 Summit, has already suffered significant damage due to the use of poor-quality construction materials.

Sumit Duggal, Raghu Tiwari, Ved Prakash and other residents of the Mapsko Mountville housing society in Sector 79 said two cement mixing and concrete-making plants in nearby areas are contributing to the air pollution. The dust from these plants, combined with the heavy traffic of cement mixer trucks, has not only worsened air quality but also damaged the newly constructed roads. This has made daily commuting hazardous, especially for schoolchildren and the elderly.

“Despite sending over 100 emails to the Haryana Chief Minister’s Office, the Central Pollution Control Board and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, the authorities have failed to take any action,” the residents said.

Pooja Kansal, Shalini Jain, Shilpa Gupta and other women residents added the presence of these plants has led to significant health problems, including respiratory problems. “The local residents are suffering from serious health concerns,” they added.

During the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) period, these cement mixing plants and crushers were identified as major sources of pollution in Sectors 78 and 79. In response, the Municipal Corporation of Manesar (MCM) imposed heavy penalties, but the pollution continues unabated.

The residents have called on the district administration to shut down the cement mixing and crusher plants near residential areas and to repair the damaged roads. They also expressed concerns over the safety of sending their children to school due to the hazardous conditions.

Attempts were made to contact Arun Dhankar, Chief Engineer (Infra-1) of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, for his response regarding the road damage but received no reply.