MCG engineer in dock over Gurugram Sector 15 inundation

Civic teams repeatedly found no progress at the site, with the engineer allegedly offering unsatisfactory responses

Published on: May 28, 2025, 05:33:24 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya filed a “charge sheet” against a junior engineer under Rule 7 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 2016, for gross negligence in failing to operationalise a key drainage facility at Gulmohar Park, Sector 15.In violation of the rules, he ignored repeated directives over the past several months to install a power connection to activate the motor pumps at the sump well in the area.

Municipal commissioner Pradeep Dahiya issued directives to officials during the monthly meeting, focusing on improving transparency, accelerating service delivery, and promptly addressing public grievances on Tuesday. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Despite repeated instructions from senior officials, the junior engineer did not ensure an electricity connection for a sump-well dewatering system, part of a ₹1.23-crore project completed in July 2024 to prevent monsoon flooding. The setup includes two 45-horsepower (hp) and a 20-hp pump, which remain defunct due to lack of power—a task that was under his purview, according to the “charge sheet” and senior officials. The official was suspended indefinitely with immediate effect, officials said.

“Lapses in critical public services will not be tolerated. Officials will be held directly accountable,” Dahiya said. The MCG notice, dated April 22, 2025, outlines the alleged failure of junior engineer Ravinder Kumar to secure electricity, test equipment, or commission the system at Bandh Road, Sector 15 Part-II. Officials said his inaction resulted in repeated flooding and public inconvenience.

Civic teams repeatedly found no progress at the site, with the engineer allegedly offering unsatisfactory responses. “Leaving it idle for over nine months is unacceptable,” Dahiya added.

Residents expressed anger at the recurring waterlogging. “Every monsoon, we hear solutions are in place, yet the roads flood again,” said Rakesh Bhatnagar, a Sector 15 resident.

The disciplinary action is expected to serve as a warning as MCG pushes for accelerated monsoon preparedness. “Public money must yield public benefit,” said the commissioner.

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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