Residents oppose underground electricity cable at cost of greenery

GURUGRAM: The residents of sectors 21 and 22 have threatened to block traffic flow on Old DelhiGurgaon road if the green belt on the sector road is destroyed to lay an electric cable underground to connection a private company with the distributor’s substation.

Residents held a meeting on Sunday and decided to protest at the office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) on Monday.

Roughly 700 metres from Palam Vihar Morh (crossing), for those heading towards Kapashera border from Atul Kataria Chowk, there is a road on the left connecting Old DelhiGurugram Road with sectors 21 and 22. The road spans roughly 700 metres, of which 400 metres has a lush green cover. Huda’s engineering wing had granted permission to a private company to use the green belt for laying power cables underground.

Bhim Singh, a resident Sector 22, said, “A meeting was held among residents of sectors 21, 22 and 23 on Sunday and we decided to give a representation to Huda administrator Chander Shekhar Khare. We will request him to withdraw the permission, failing which we will protest.”

On Wednesday, residents stopped digging work for a duct in the green belt.

Residents immediately informed officials of the forest department and the district administration of the digging and sought their intervention to save the green belt and around 200 fully grown trees.

The residents said that the authorities are allowing trees to be uprooted.

Malkhan Singh, a Sector 23 resident, said, “It is strange that instead of saving trees, Huda engineers are allowing plants to be uprooted. We are united in our effort to save this beautiful patch.”

The power cables are to be laid two-and-a-half metres below the surface. Residents said Huda’s letter, granting permission for digging up the green belt, has no reference to greenery or clearance by the forest department. The letter merely says that the company assigned the work of laying power cables underground has to abide by the guidelines laid down by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Balraj Bansal, subdivisional engineer, Huda, said, “Electricity is an essential requirement and we cannot deny permission (for the digging the green belt surface for laying power cables). However, we will look into the complaints of residents.”

D Hembram, conservator of forest, Gurugram, said, “I have sought a report from the field staff and will act accordingly.”