CCTV cameras to identify waste dumping spots in Gurugram

Officials said that CCTV surveillance will help create a robust data collection system and ensure that challans are being mapped correctly

Updated on: May 4, 2023, 22:54:03 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Officials of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Thursday visited 35 secondary garbage dumping points to identify spots to install CCTV cameras. Officials said the transportation of waste will be monitored through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (I-CCC) at the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) office in Sector 44.

Officials said CCTV cameras will be installed after tenders are floated this month and the system will be linked with the I-CCC within three months.

Officials said that for better monitoring of waste segregation and waste management services in the city, which are being undertaken by MCG, smart technology-based solutions are being explored to track the day-to-day operations.

PC Meena, MCG commissioner, said that CCTV surveillance will help create a robust data collection system and ensure that challans are being mapped correctly at both the secondary garbage collection and final disposal sites.

“The initiative was taken after many complaints were received regarding dumping of mixed waste at these 35 secondary points and on roads instead of designated spots,” he said.

Meena said with the help of CCTV cameras they will identify the suspects and it will help them keep the area clean. “After the picture of the violator is captured, we will send the image to police to take action against the suspect. If any private vendor is found to be involved in it, we will impose a fine on them too,” he said.

MCG officials face a challenge in transporting waste from these secondary points to Bandhwari as many private vendors are still collecting mixed waste while MCG’s teams are engaged in segregating waste.

Last month, GMDA carried out a survey of the 35 garbage collection points along with the Bandhwari collection site.

Meena said that based on the survey, they have mapped 14 locations with existing optical fibre connectivity, while the remaining locations and Bandhwari will get connected to the I-CCC as well.

MCG sanitation officials have been directed to visit the spots everyday to keep a check on the garbage dumping and to ensure that all the vehicles transporting waste to Bandhwari do not take shortcuts.

MCG has already started a crackdown on unauthorised vehicles carrying mixed waste from secondary points to Bandhwari landfill. Over 50 such vehicles have been impounded by municipal teams over the last one month, said civic officials.

The vehicles were identified by teams based on complaints received from garbage collectors. The civic body said it has issued stringent directions to its solid waste management concessionaire to segregate waste before transporting it to Bandhwari and also instructed checking teams to ensure that no vehicle transports mixed waste from the secondary waste collection points to Bandhwari.

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