Gurgaon: A pipeline — laid from a sewage treatment plant (STP) in a village to a waterbody inside the Aravali plantation area — has raised hackles of the residents amid ecological and legal concerns.Baliyawas residents are questioning a “plan” to divert treated wastewater into a structure meant for groundwater recharge and wildlife use. The site lies barely 10 minutes from Golf Course Extension Road. A visit by TOI to the site on Tuesday found the pipeline recently laid through the plantation area and terminating near a small check dam within the forest patch. Residents said the pipeline was laid around four days ago and, so far, wastewater did not begin flowing through it.Residents said the pipeline is connected to the STP operated by MCG in Baliyawas and is intended to channel treated wastewater towards the forest area.Meanwhile, a complaint was also submitted to the forest department by the residents seeking intervention. It warned that discharge of STP water into or near such a water source could contaminate water meant for animals and affect the surrounding ecosystem.In a letter dated March 17, addressed to the divisional forest officer (territorial), the complainant alleged that laying a pipeline to discharge STP water into a forest waterhole “could amount to an illegal activity within an ecologically sensitive Aravali corridor connected to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary”. The letter said, “The site already contains a waterhole maintained by the forest department and regularly filled with safe drinking water for wildlife.”The complaint also said even treated STP water may still contain residual pollutants, pathogens, chemical contaminants, heavy metals and microplastics that could potentially degrade soil quality, contaminate groundwater and affect wildlife.Residents, who accompanied TOI to the site, said diverting STP water into such structures could defeat their ecological purpose. “Even treated STP water may contain residual contaminants and chemicals. These check dams were meant for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. If sewage water is discharged here, it may alter water quality and affect wildlife that depend on these sources,” said Vishal Singh, a resident.Locals pointed out that the water structure was created by the forest department as part of conservation work in the Aravali hills. TOI found three check dams designed to slow rainwater runoff and allow it to percolate into the ground, helping recharge groundwater and support vegetation and wildlife in the semi-arid landscape.A senior MCG official said, “We are seeking a status update on the STP pipeline laid inside the Aravali plantation area to ascertain whether prior permission was taken and if such approval was required. If permission is found to be necessary, we will obtain it.” Rajat Shukla, another resident, said the issue also raised concerns about groundwater safety. “Villages around this area rely heavily on tubewell water for drinking and irrigation. If treated wastewater eventually enters the ground through these structures, it could contaminate the aquifer over time,” he said.Meanwhile, a forest department official said that they did not receive any such request from MCG. “We will take action as it is not permissible to carry out any non-forest work in the Aravalis plantation area. Also, dumping of wastewater is not allowed,” said a forest official.
