Hindustan Times: Gurugram: Thursday, August 16, 2018.
The residents
of Sushant Lok are alleging that the district hydrology department has not
sealed the ‘illegal’ borewell installed at Queen Plaza commercial complex in C
Block of Sushant Lok.
The residents
said that the hydrology department on July 24 had granted 15 days time to the
owner of the Queen Plaza complex asking for proof that the borewell was legal.
The hydrology
department said that the owner of the complex submitted a reply and it is under
examination.
The
residents, however, said more than 20 days have passed, but the borewell has
not yet been sealed.
SS Rai, a
complainant, said, “We fail to understand why the hydrology department has not
initiated action. We objected to the 15 days’ time granted to the complex owner
and soon after officials inspected on July 24, we filed a complaint at the CM
Window. We have met the district town planning (DTP) enforcement officials.
Despite our efforts, no action has been taken.”
In January
2017, the residents had lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner’s (DC)
office, stating that the Queen Plaza commercial complex had got installed an
‘illegal’ borewell, is running a hotel in the basement and encroaching public
utility spaces.
In October
2016, the residents’ welfare association (RWA) of the colony had filed an RTI
and obtained the layout plan of the complex and information of the borewell.
In the RTI
reply, the district hydrology department had confirmed that the borewell in
question did not have permission from the department.
The residents
said that the commercial complex has appeared as big nuisance for them as it is
surrounded by thickly populated residential houses.
“The hotel
remains open till late night, visitors park vehicles on the road around the
complex and this all creates a big nuisance for all of us,” said Anil Sharma,
former RWA member of Sushant Lok, adding that the borewell water is being used
by the hotel.
“We cannot
seal the borewell as owner contended that it was installed much before 2011,
when the area was notified for extraction of groundwater by the Central Ground
Water Authority (CGWA). We are examining the documents submitted by the owner
in this regard,” said BS Lamba, district hydrologist.
Amit
Madholia, assistant town planner, enforcement, said, “We will examine the
documents of the owner and take action as per the law.”
Devender Pal
Singh, the owner of the complex, denied that borewell is illegal. “We have
submitted our reply to the departments concerned.”