New Gurugram Residents Protest Against Sewage Charges, Demand Waiver from GMDA
Gurugram Residents Protest Against Unjust Sewage Charges
Residents of New Gurugram, particularly those living in sectors 77-99, are protesting against the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) for imposing sewage charges despite the lack of a functional sewage network. Frustrated homeowners have written to the GMDA, demanding an immediate waiver of the charges and the adjustment of previously paid fees against future water bills.
Incomplete Infrastructure, Yet Charges Imposed
Residents argue that they have been paying External Development Charges (EDC) and Infrastructure Development Charges (IDC) for nearly a decade, which were intended to cover the costs of sewage and drainage infrastructure. However, the sewage network remains incomplete, and most residential societies in the region are not connected to any functioning disposal system.
“We are paying for a service that does not exist. There is no completed sewage network, yet we are being billed monthly for sewage,” said Praveen Malik, a representative of the United Association of New Gurugram.
Financial Burden and Environmental Concerns
The lack of proper sewage disposal has forced residential societies to hire private tankers to manage and discharge treated wastewater, further increasing the financial burden on residents. Additionally, the unregulated disposal of sewage water has raised concerns about land and water pollution.
“We purchased flats in New Gurugram for a healthy and comfortable living environment, but the lack of basic infrastructure troubles us every day. The tanker mafia has emerged due to incomplete sewage infrastructure, leading to illegal wastewater disposal. These sewage charges are unjustified and should be waived; otherwise, we will be forced to take legal action,” said Naresh Kumar, president of the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) of Orris Carnation-85.
Repeated Appeals, No Resolution
Despite multiple complaints and discussions with GMDA, residents claim that no concrete action has been taken. They have formally written to the GMDA CEO, seeking the following:
- Immediate waiver of sewage charges for sectors 77-99.
- Adjustment of previously paid charges against future water bills.
- Swift completion of sewage infrastructure to ensure proper connectivity.
“We have raised this issue multiple times, but there has been no resolution. We have submitted a written complaint and an email to the GMDA CEO, and we hope for a swift response,” said Aryan Chikkara, a resident of Anantraj Maceo-91.
GMDA’s Response
In response to the protests, Rajesh Bansal, GMDA Chief Engineer, stated that wastewater charges are included in water bills as per policy. He further clarified that societies with Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) units, which meet the required treatment parameters and reuse the water within their premises, are eligible for a 50% rebate on sewage charges.
However, residents remain dissatisfied with this response, insisting that they should not have to pay for a service that is not operational. With no resolution in sight, they are considering legal action if their demands are not met soon.
