Sub-divisional officer faces activists' ire for dumping waste in forest

GURGAON: Two city-based environmentalists are planning to complain to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) after they caught a Huda sub-divisional officer (SDO) red-handed ordering construction and development (C&D) waste to be dumped in an adjoining forest area on Sunday morning.
The authorities were reportedly trying to clean up the Gurgaon-Faridabad road ahead of the PM's visit to city.
Environmentalist Amit Chaudhery, who was on his way from Delhi to Gurgaon, raised an alarm when he found two earthmoving machines dumping waste in the forest along the Gurgaon-Faridabad road. "I was shocked to find Huda SDO H S Jhakhar present at the spot. He was instructing workers to dump the waste in the forest area," he told TOI.
The environmentalist called police. immediately. "We've been witnessing illegal dumping of C&D waste for years in the Aravalis, especially on Gurgaon-Faridabad road. It's all the more shameful that government officials are involved in it," said Vivek Kamboj, another environmentalist who was present at the spot.
The greens have filed a complaint at the DLF I police station. They are now planning to file a contempt petition with the NGT.
TOI has found that dumping of C&D waste in forested areas is quite common, especially during weekends, though not a single case has ever been registered against the violation.
"One can see a lot of vehicles dumping waste in the forest on Sunday mornings, as there is less traffic on the road," said Sharmila, a resident.
Soon after the issue was brought to the notice of senior officials, they held a meeting and decided to put a metal barrier on the Gurgaon-Faridabad Road.
According to Solid Waste Management Rules, 2015, of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, landfill sites should be set far away from forest areas, wildlife clusters, water bodies, etc. It is the duty of the local municipal council and district administration to keep a check on dumping of solid waste in forest areas.
Jhakhar denied the allegations. "We were not dumping waste in the forest. We were just piling it up on one side, for future disposal. Earthmovers can't be deployed during weekdays, as they block the road. Over 2,000 tonnes of C&D waste has been lying in the area. We were just trying to clear the waste at our convenience."