Residents allege strain on water, power and roads
GURUGRAM : Residents of various localities in Gurugram are up in arms against allegedly illegal hotels, paying guest facilities (PGs), spas, department stores, garages, eateries and other enterprises that have come up in residential colonies, saying they are choking public space and burdening civic infrastructure.
It is claimed that the problem is acute in DLF phases 2 and 3, Sushant Lok-1, Palam Vihar, and sectors 23, 40 and 46. The residents allege authorities have not been able to clamp down on such activities, despite repeated pleas.
“Those (space and infrastructure) are two main concerns,” says Nidhi Yadav, a 26-year-old resident of Sector 40. Commercial activities which take place in designated residential zones are illegal
by default, she claims, adding that they consume large amounts of power and water, in turn depriving residents of these utilities. “A hotel or PG can run up to 30 ACs at a time,” says Yadav, who points out that power and water cuts in her area have become frequent since these establishments came up.
The same complaints are heard from residents in DLF phases 2 and 3, which are especially susceptible to the rise of commercial activities due to their location. “We are close to Delhi, and at a convenient distance from MG Road and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. A large number of working professionals pass through the area and patronise these establishments,” says Sunil Nakra (65), resident of DLF-2.
Residents of Phase 3 say their area is the worst affected. Large plots of land, which were allotted to people from the economically weaker section of the society, have been bought or rented with the explicit intention of commercial exploitation, says Naveen Rangera, a resident of Phase-3.
“We have written to the District Town and Country Planning department, to the deputy commissioner and to various MCG officials. But, we have not seen any action being taken,” he says.
Most proprietors running these establishments can rarely be contacted, residents say.
Hemant Gupta, a guest house owner and president of the Millennial City Guest House Association, however, says there are no laws preventing guest houses from operating in residential areas. “A guest house is not recognised as a commercial activity. It is an activity of human habitation, which is permissible under state law,” Gupta says.
Another issue the residents highlight is that of waste. Commercial enterprises generate more waste than homes, causing a buildup of garbage and construction debris. They also complain about choked drains. Hotels and guest houses are also fitted with diesel generators, which degrade the local air quality.
RS Yadav, president of Sector 40 RWA, claims he has written to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board asking them to look into the issue, but has not seen any visible change.
There is also the problem of security. A resident of DLF Phase 2, Sujata Goenka, expresses suspicion about the spas and massage parlours operating around her home. Nakra adds that incidents of residents being harassed and groped have increased.
Dr AK Nagpal, who has been the president of the Sushant Lok RWS, says the only solution is a blanket ban on such establishments. “Regularising and licensing will not work. Why should we share our space and resources with those running businesses for personal profit?” he asks.
However, district town planner (enforcement) Rajinder Sharma says, “We are going to take action against illegal establishments running commercial operation as all are not guest houses.”