In an unusual yet powerful protest, residents of Gurugram gathered along the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) and symbolically played Holi with dust to highlight the alarming levels of pollution caused by ongoing construction and poor road maintenance.
Holding handfuls of soil and tossing it into the air, locals sought to draw attention to what they described as unchecked dust pollution affecting daily life and public health. The protest was aimed at urging authorities to strictly enforce construction norms and implement stronger dust-control measures.
Rising Health Concerns
Residents said continuous construction activity, broken road stretches and inadequate sprinkling of water have worsened air quality in the area. Many claimed that children and elderly people are facing breathing issues, throat irritation and eye infections due to persistent dust clouds.
“This is the kind of Holi we are forced to play every day,” a protester said, referring to the dusty conditions along the busy corridor.
Authorities Promise Action
Following repeated complaints, GMDA CEO PC Meena has directed officials to prepare estimates for immediate patchwork as well as long-term reconstruction of damaged stretches of SPR. Technical assessments are currently underway to determine the scope of repairs.
Residents, however, say they will continue to push for sustained monitoring and stricter compliance with environmental norms until visible improvements are made.
The symbolic ‘dust Holi’ has now sparked fresh debate over urban construction practices and the urgent need for pollution control in rapidly expanding city corridors.
