Union min tells Gurugram officials to fast-track drains, welfare scheme roll-out

Minister Rao Inderjit Singh ordered a probe into drain encroachments near Ambience Mall and sought regular groundwater testing around the Bandhwari landfill.

Published on: May 13, 2026, 05:33:12 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Union minister of state for statistics and programme implementation Rao Inderjit Singh on Tuesday directed officials in Gurugram to ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes, improve urban infrastructure and adopt permanent solutions to civic issues, while chairing a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) at the Mini Secretariat.

Singh stressed coordination among departments and prioritising roads, drinking water, health, education and urban infrastructure works. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

The meeting was attended by Gurugram deputy commissioner Uttam Singh, Pataudi MLA Bimla Chaudhary, Gurugram MLA Mukesh Sharma and senior officials from various departments.

Reviewing development projects, Singh stressed timely and quality execution of works. “Government schemes must reach the last person in the queue. Departments should work in coordination and ensure that issues related to roads, drinking water, health, education and infrastructure are addressed on priority,” he told reporters.

Focusing on waterlogging and conservation, Singh directed officials to adopt long-term measures, noting reuse of treated water and groundwater recharge. He also ordered an inquiry into encroachments near stormwater drains around Ambience Mall.

Meanwhile, GMDA CEO PC Meena told HTa new drain line on Southern Peripheral Road is expected to be completed by June 15 and will help reduce waterlogging between Subhash Chowk and Rajiv Chowk. A box drain near Medanta Hospital is also likely to be completed within 25 days.

On illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste along the Gurugram-Faridabad road, MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said challans worth nearly ₹2 crore had been issued, with around ₹1.5 crore recovered.

Singh also ordered regular groundwater testing around the Bandhwari landfill site, where officials said nearly 1.4 million metric tonnes of legacy waste remain and are targeted for clearance by February next year.

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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