Gurgaon: Hundreds of residents held a protest against continued dumping of garbage and construction waste around Golf Course Extension Road (GCER), at IFC Chowk, on Sunday.The residents from more than 15 colonies demanded that Haryana govt and civic agencies fix the waste management system instead of relying on periodic clean-ups and assurances.Residents said that while GCER is now being prepared for a major makeover, stretches around the corridor have for years been used for dumping waste, affecting the quality of life in the area.“It’s time Haryana govt, MCG and GMDA realise that people will not tolerate this disregard for basic hygiene and cleanliness. While GCER is being set for a remake, for years it has been used as a dumping ground and made this part of Gurgaon totally unliveable,” convener of citizen movements — MMG and Gurgaon Residents Against Pollution (GRAP) — Gauri Sarin told TOI.Sunday’s protest was symbolic and was held to keep the focus on the continuing waste management problems around GCER, Sarin said, adding that she had personally raised the matter with chief minister Nayab Singh Saini at a meeting a few weeks ago, but the situation had changed only marginally. Gurgaon’s residents pay taxes, follow rules, and contribute to the city’s economic growth. In return, they expect roads that work, waste that is managed, drains that drain, traffic that moves, and public spaces that remain public, she added.The residents signed two petitions. One of them — submitted to MCG, GMDA, the district administration, Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the department of urban local bodies — has raised issues pertaining to open dumping along GCER and adjoining areas, while expressing concerns over construction and demolition (C&D) waste being mixed with municipal garbage.The residents’ broader 12-point charter seeks reliable door-to-door segregated waste collection and permanent elimination of open dumping hotspots. It also calls for stronger monitoring of construction and road dust and waste disposal, besides a transparent grievance redressal system through which complaints can be tracked and resolution timelines viewed.The protest was a continuation of a demonstration held on Dec 31, 2025, when residents had raised the demand for a dust-free GCER and highlighted the problems caused by construction waste and garbage mismanagement.Residents said the accumulation of waste was affecting road and pedestrian movement, contributing to dust and air pollution and obstructing drains, while increasing the risk for pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler riders.Their demands include a C&D waste processing plant, better secondary waste transfer points, a complete stop to using roads as dumping sites, increased patrolling and faster govt decisions on civic issues.The petition seeks a proper system for collection, transportation and authorised disposal or processing of C&D waste. Residents have also demanded monitoring of construction sites and vehicles carrying C&D waste and proposed CCTV or other monitoring systems at chronic dumping points.They want dumping locations to be inspected regularly even after clean-up to ensure fresh waste is not deposited at the same spots.The petition also seeks a clearly identified authority for each major dumping hotspot, with a timeline for resolving the problem and public action-taken reports.Speaking to TOI, Manas, a proteter, said the protest also reflected growing awareness among residents about solid waste management and the need to move beyond simply removing accumulated garbage.“It is great to see the increasing awareness and conversations around solid waste management. At the event, we discussed the need for waste reduction, segregation, in-situ composting, decentralised material recovery facilities (MRFs), guarding against our NIMBY (not in my backyard!) tendencies, more C&D waste processing plants, and speedier and more systemic decisions by the government,” he said, adding citizens who spent a couple of hours on a Sunday raising awareness about the issue deserved appreciation.Residents said the waste problem was also linked to blocked drains, waterlogging and poor pedestrian infrastructure. They have sought regular cleaning and desilting of drains, action on sewage overflow, functional streetlights, road markings and stronger monitoring of environmental compliance.
