MCG launches cleanliness drive, 3 WhatsApp numbers for waste related complaints

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has launched a seven-day cleanliness drive to remove garbage from roads and market areas. The campaign includes the launch of three WhatsApp numbers for residents to raise waste-related complaints. The drive comes amid a 52-day strike by the city's sanitation workers, who are demanding improved pay and job security. MCG commissioner PC Meena said residents can lodge complaints on the WhatsApp numbers with pictures, and the teams will address the issues within seven days. The campaign collected over 800 tonnes of garbage on its first day.

Updated on: Dec 3, 2023, 05:32:14 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Saturday launched a seven-day mega cleanliness drive to remove the mounds of garbage lying on the roads and market areas. The campaign also included the launch of three WhatsApp numbers for residents to raise waste-related complaints — solid waste, horticulture waste as well as construction and demolition (C&D) waste, officials aware of the matter said on Saturday.

Heaps of garbage lie on either side of a road at Sector-5 near Chintpurni Mandir on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar)

The development came amid the 52-day strike being held by the city’s sanitation workers who are demanding an increase in salary, regularisation of staff on pay roll and reinstating services of those who have been laid off.

MCG commissioner PC Meena said that residents and their associations can lodge complaints on the given numbers along with pictures so that the teams can address the issue and get the area cleaned within seven days. The WhatsApp numbers were shared are — 7290097521 for garbage related complaints, 7290088127 for C&D waste related complaints and 7290076135 for horticulture waste related complaints. The complaints received will be resolved with promptness.

Despite several measures being taken in the past, MCG was unable to resolve the sanitation issue, following which the resident welfare associations (RWAs) alleged that the roads and markets are littered with garbage despite repeated complaints.

MCG has been facing sharp criticism for its failure to keep the city clean due to the ongoing strike of sanitation workers. Under the seven-day mega cleanliness drive, MCG will ensure that solid, C&D and horticulture waste is cleared and pictures are shared with the RWAs concerned.

The civic body officials said that under the campaign, 52 teams have been engaged in full capacity from the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and MCG in different areas with adequate manpower, machinery and other resources. Teams from both MCG and GMDA comprising nearly 30 members each have been formed for the campaign, officials said.

Meena conducted surprise checks in over 20 areas to inspect the drive and gave necessary directions to the teams present on the spot. “Under the special campaign, all the three helpline WhatsApp numbers are active. On Saturday, residents sent 41 complaints through WhatsApp, which were resolved by the teams concerned by taking immediate action. These include 15 complaints related to horticulture waste, 11 complaints related to C&D waste and 15 complaints related to garbage,” he said.

Action on unauthorised C&D waste dumping

MCG officials said caught a man red-handed with a tractor-trolley while he was dumping C&D waste at Khushboo Chowk on Saturday. The vehicle was confiscated and a fine of ₹25,000 was imposed on him for violation of rules.

Meena said that C&D waste dumping in public places, drains, roadsides, green belt areas etc. will not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Those carrying out C&D activities have been asked to deliver the waste directly to the Basai plant. Strict action will be taken against those involved in unauthorised dumping,” he said.

Naresh Kumar, joint commissioner of MCG, said that under the campaign, garbage, debris and horticulture waste were picked up from at least 12 crossings, markets, and residential areas and the roads were cleaned.

On the first day of the campaign, over 800 tonnes of garbage, 1,000 tonnes of C&D waste and 100 trolley full of horticulture waste were collected, said MCG officials.

Senior officials from the district administration, GMDA and MCG will also conduct inspections across the city. If any negligence in clearing waste is found during the campaign, strict action is likely to be taken against the entire team, officials said.

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