HC-appointed commissioners inspect sanitation situation in Gurugram

The inspection comes on a petition filed by a resident, highlighting civic crisis in the city during a two-month strike by sanitation workers last year

Updated on: Jan 3, 2025, 05:20:00 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Punjab and Haryana high court-appointed officers on Thursday inspected Gurugram’s sanitation system, through visits to multiple areas, meetings with residents’ welfare associations (RWAs), evaluation of sanitation practices, waste management assessment and analysis of bulk waste generators (BWGs).

Waste dumped indiscriminately in Gurugram last year. (HT Archive)

During Thursday’s inspection, 19 teams,supported by nodal officers and liaison officials appointed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram. The teams took feedback from an array of sources, including shopkeepers and RWAs, whose feedback indicated that sanitation improved, according to MCG commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg.

MCG commissioner Garg said: “The findings of local commissioners will be compiled into a report for submission to the high court, ensuring continued oversight and improvement in sanitation practices.”

The inspection comes on a petition filed by a resident, highlighting civic crisis in the city during a two-month strike by sanitation workers last year. Taking serious note of the inefficiency, the court reprimanded municipal officials for their failure to provide accurate data on waste management. After at least five rounds of inspections,the commissioners will submit a report to the high court.

According to MCG, Gurugram generates 1,000-1,200 metric tonne of C&D waste daily, having a total of 1.1 million metric tonne of legacy debris. The Basai C&D plant is currently processing the waste, with more plants set to come up. Patrols were also increased to prevent illegal dumping, with MCG citing levy of 142 penalties, impounding 40 vehicles and filing 14 FIRs in the process.

With regard to solid waste, MCG said 3.42 million metric tonne of 30 million metric tonne at Bandhwari landfill was processed and tenders issued to clear another 1.4 million metric tonne.

Following their interactions, commissioners emphasised improvements needed in waste collection and management, especially with regard to construction and demolition (C&D) waste. They highlighted the need for consistent action and took stock of ongoing measures, such as mechanised sweeping, deployment of staff and transfer of waste from secondary collection points to the Bandhwari landfill.

MCG officials said citizens were encouraged to utilise dedicated helplines for sanitation—7290097521, 7290076135 for horticulture waste, and 7290088127 for C&D waste.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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