Folks working companies across the Gurugram Bus Stand and passengers commonly utilizing the depot raised well being issues over repeated open burning of waste and alleged inaction by authorities regardless of complaints being commonly lodged since 2023.
Rubbish burning close to the bus stand. (HT Picture)
Sumit Tayal, a every day commuter and citizen volunteer with the Residents for Clear Air, stated he has been posting images and elevating complaints on social media, and tagging businesses, together with the Fee for Air High quality Administration (CAQM), Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB), HSPCB, and the municipal companies of Gurugram and Faridabad. “For three years, I have been watching this fire ritual—waste being dumped and burned at both Ballabgarh and Gurugram bus stands. No one steps in to stop it,” Tayal stated, including that neither civic businesses nor Haryana Roadways have accepted jurisdictional accountability.
Ruchika Sethi Takkar, founding father of Residents for Clear Air, stated she submitted photographic proof to Haryana Roadways officers in December 2024 and requested an inside inquiry into the potential of sanitation staff lighting the fires. “There was no response,” she stated. “It is alarming that repeated complaints fall on deaf ears. Passengers are trapped in a cloud of smoke while waiting for buses. Is clean air no longer a right?”
The Gurugram bus stand in Sector 12 is unfold throughout 13 acres, and caters to 400 buses on daily basis. Its infrastructure is crumbling, with a brief terminal accommodating solely about 100-150 passengers. Amid Haryana Roadways’ plan to improve the depot, the continuing publicity to hazardous waste burning continues unchecked.
The bus stand falls underneath the jurisdiction of the Gurugram Metropolitan Growth Authority (GMDA), however officers stated they have been unaware of the problem and can ship a workforce to conduct spot checks.
Specialists stated burning of plastic and meals residue releases particulate matter and carcinogenic compounds. “In 2013, the WHO classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic. Yet today, government departments remain unmoved as hundreds are exposed to this pollution daily,” stated Takkar.
Activists stated they’ve urged state atmosphere minister Rao Narbir Singh to take swift cognisance and instruct roadways to cease the fires and handle waste responsibly. “Sanitation, health, and civic responsibility cannot be sidelined,” stated Takkar.
Bharat Bhushan Gogia, normal supervisor of the Gurugram interstate bus depot, stated every day rubbish lifting turned a significant problem over the previous month. “It was probably due to unavailability of daily wage workers for Holi as they return home at that time,” the GM stated.
He stated it was inflicting a significant downside for the motion of passengers as roads have been plagued by foul stench. “Movement of buses further caused the garbage on the road to spread further,” Gogia stated.
He stated that the matter was taken up with the highest brass of the MCG and waste is being lifted every day. “However, we have not seen any garbage being burnt on the roads around the depot. Even if done, then the culprits must be selecting the empty plots in neighbouring areas, on which he doesn’t have any information,” he stated.
Vijay Choudhary, regional officer for south Gurugram on the Haryana State Air pollution Management Board, stated they may conduct inspections beginning Thursday and take motion towards the individuals concerned in waste burning.