Dirty water filled on empty land of village Dharampur area. Photo- Jagran
Aditya Raj, Gurugram. Cyber city means the hub of IT, telecom, automobile, garments and medical sectors. Millions of people from all over the country and the world live in this city. Now it is being called the economic capital not only of Haryana but also of the country. Haryana gives more than 60 percent revenue to the government. Even after this, the government and administration have failed to provide completely pure water.
In some places the ground water is no longer fit for drinking due to mountains of garbage, in some areas the ground water is becoming poisonous due to dyeing units, in some places the water level has gone so low that it has become saline. Not only this, dirty water from industrial units is being dumped into drains.
Dirty water accumulated in the industrial area of Begumpur Khatola. Awakening
In many areas including Kadipur, Basai, Garhi, Harsaru, Bajgheda, Daulatabad, Mohammadpur, Khandsa, Kasan, Baharampur, where more than 150 electroplating units are operating illegally, more than 200 dyeing units are running. Due to this, the water of Yamuna which quenches the thirst of the city is becoming poisonous day by day.
The result is that diseases like cancer are increasing day by day. Especially the disease of stomach, intestine and throat cancer is increasing. Many people are diagnosed with cancer when it reaches the final stage.
Even after this, food is being supplied by the government and administration in the name of controlling the situation. If care is not taken in time, then a terrible problem can arise even in Indore because experts say that if the water gets completely spoiled, it cannot be completely rectified and made potable.
This type of dirty water is reaching Yamuna from different areas of Cyber City. Awakening
While treatment plants can eliminate some bacteria, 100 percent of the water cannot be treated. After all, due to what reasons the groundwater of Cyber City is getting contaminated, how food is being supplied in the name of improving the system, here is the report of Dainik Jagran's chief correspondent Aditya Raj from Gurugram on many questions:
More than 25 lives have been lost due to cancer
Bandhwadi village is situated in the lap of Aravali. 15 years ago, a place was selected in Bandhwadi to dump the city's garbage. It was said that the garbage will be disposed of daily so that it neither creates filth nor spoils the ground water due to seepage of water below. No attention was paid to this.
As a result, the groundwater level of not only village Bandhwadi but also nearby villages Baliawas, Gwalpahari, villages Mandi, Dera and Bas of Delhi area is deteriorating. Among these, the population of Bandhwadi is about 10 thousand. There is a population of about four thousand in Baliawas, about three thousand in Gwalpahari, about five thousand in Mandi, about seven thousand in Dera and about six thousand in Bass.
The water of Bandhwadi has become 100 percent spoiled. Even after that, people are forced to drink water because there is no arrangement for drinking water supply. For years people have been demanding arrangements for drinking water supply but the administration is not ready to pay attention. As a result, more than 25 people have died of cancer in the last few years. Still more than 10 people are suffering from cancer. Most of the people suffer from stomach, intestine and respiratory problems.
Poisonous water is hollowing from inside
There has been a mountain of garbage in Bandhwadi for many years. Even at present, more than 10 lakh tonnes of garbage is accumulated. Due to lack of development of fire system, fires occur frequently during summer. There were more than 35 fires during the year 2024. Last year also several fires occurred. Water is poured to control the fire. Because of that leachate is getting prepared below.
Leachate increases rapidly during monsoon. It is slowly reaching underground. Due to this the water of Bandhwadi has become completely spoiled. A few months ago, the investigation report of Haryana State Pollution Control Board also said that the water of Bandhwadi is not fit for drinking. For the last 10 years, the administration has been claiming that the mountain of garbage will end in the next few months but it is not known when that day will come.
Political parties remember this a lot during elections. Everyone becomes quiet as soon as the elections are over. The poisonous water is hollowing out people in such a way that suddenly it is revealed that they have last stage cancer. 37-year-old Satpal, resident of Bandhwadi village, looked completely healthy. Suddenly one day his health deteriorated. After investigation, it was found that he had liver cancer.
Despite spending lakhs of rupees, he died within a few months. Yogendra Pradhan's father Mahendra Singh and uncle Shyambir Singh, residents of the village, died due to cancer within a short period of time. Both died due to throat cancer. Both of them have cancer, it was found out at the last stage. The situation is such that now whoever is serious leaves the village. Due to this, many areas of the village appear deserted.
Dyeing units running illegally in many areas
Illegal dyeing units are running in many areas including village Bajgheda. When complaint comes Haryana State Pollution Control Board becomes active otherwise no attention is given. On condition of anonymity, a villager said that most of the dyeing units are operated at night. Some operate during the day.
One-and-a-half years ago, the Pollution Control Board team seemed quite active. Raids were conducted from time to time. Due to this the unit operators remained scared. Now everyone is fearless. Water from the units is drained into drains. Due to this the groundwater level of the village is deteriorating. Let us inform that in June 2022, the team of Haryana State Pollution Control Board had raided and sealed 11 dyeing units operating in Bajgheda area.
Electricity and water connections were disconnected. Even a fine was imposed. Even during 2024, illegally operating dyeing units were sealed by conducting raids in many areas including Bajgheda. There was a complaint that the water from the dyeing units was reaching the Najafgarh drain. Due to this the water of Yamuna is deteriorating rapidly. As per rules, it is mandatory for dyeing units to install Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Entrepreneurs do not set up plants to save money.
Mining mafia depletes ground water
Cyber City and surrounding areas are situated in the lap of Aravali Hills. During illegal mining by the mining mafia, groundwater was exploited to such an extent that while there was no trace of water in most of the areas, the water in many areas became saline. Even when water is extracted beyond a certain level, the water becomes salty. The result is that several years ago the entire Gurugram had to be declared a dark zone. Ground water is also being exploited due to thousands of farm houses built on the chest of Aravali and other non-forestry activities.
Water from industrial units is directly reaching Yamuna.
Dirty water from many industrial units operating in many industrial areas including Sector-37 and Manesar is directly reaching Yamuna. The proof of this is that the water of the drain near Gadauli is completely black. The drain water is black like Altar. This water is reaching Yamuna through Najafgarh drain.
Let us tell you that in Cyber City and surrounding areas, only treated water from Yamuna is supplied. Experts say that the water in and around Cyber City is becoming rapidly polluted. When water becomes completely poisonous, no matter how much we treat it, it becomes unfit for drinking. There is no other solution, so people are forced to drink poison.
I have been fighting the battle for my village Bandhwadi for the last 10 years. Many families in the village have been devastated by various diseases including cancer. The village is at a short distance from DLF, yet many people have left the village. More than 25 people have died due to cancer alone. More than 10 are suffering from cancer. Many people do not even disclose their illness so that wrong message about the family does not get out. People from outside are hesitant in coming to the village. It is becoming known as a cancer village. Everyone knows that the groundwater of the village is completely bad, yet no attention is being paid to laying drinking water lines. Tanker mafia is taking advantage of this. Many mafias have become rich by selling water. It seems as if the village is being destroyed as part of a complete conspiracy.
- Sanjay Harsana, social worker resident of Bandhwadi
There is a gap between the sewer line and the drinking water line in most areas of Cyber City. If there is a sewer line on one side of the road, there is a drinking water line on the other side. Due to this, there is very little chance of sewer water mixing with drinking water. During rainy season, there is a possibility of mixing of both the waters during waterlogging. It is found many times. For this, the problem of waterlogging will have to be solved. As far as contamination of Yamuna water is concerned, it will have to be controlled. Dirty water from industrial units is going into Yamuna. The same water is brought back and treated. The treatment plant may eliminate some bacteria but cannot completely purify the water. As long as the body has the capacity to tolerate it, there is no disease. As soon as the capacity reduces due to any reason, the disease becomes dominant.
- Dr. VK Gupta, retired Chief Engineer, Public Health Department
Depletion of groundwater is a matter of serious concern. Due to bad water, stomach, intestine and throat cancer are occurring. Many people in Cyber City and surrounding areas have stomach related problems. This is due to bad water. The amount of lead, arsenic and mercury in water is increasing. It is dangerous for health. Problems caused by water problems become apparent suddenly. Many times, the disease becomes known when it is in its final stage. We will have to work seriously on this. In any case, care has to be taken that sewer water does not mix with the drinking water line water. There is a need to keep testing the water from time to time.
- Dr. Rahul Bhargava, Oncologist and Director, Fortis Hospital