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Waste mismanagement remains an issue in Gurugram

Haryana chief secretary TVSN Prasad had launched the solid waste environment exigency programme to address critical waste management issues in Gurugram

Updated on: Jun 25, 2024, 06:12:06 IST
By , Gurugram:
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Despite Haryana declaring a municipal solid waste exigency on June 11 in Gurugram, the waste management situation in the city continues to deteriorate.

A tractor illegally dumps C&D waste on an empty plot in Sector 52A in Gurugram on June 22. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)
A tractor illegally dumps C&D waste on an empty plot in Sector 52A in Gurugram on June 22. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Haryana chief secretary TVSN Prasad, who also serves as the chairman of the executive committee of the state disaster management authority (SDMA), had launched the solid waste environment exigency programme (Sweep) to address critical waste management issues in Gurugram.

The emergency status led to the formation of a high-level committee, with the divisional commissioner, deputy commissioner, MCG commissioner, chief engineer of Gurugram metropolitan development authority (GMDA), senior environmental engineer of the Haryana state pollution control board, and the deputy commissioner of Police (HQ), but the problem could not be resolved.

Chaitali Mandhotra, a member of the Ardee City RWA, said, “We have been putting up photos and locations of garbage dumps and C&D dumps since the helpline was launched, but there has been no action. We also put our grievance on the CM window which was acted upon by burning the waste. No one has come for sanitation or sweeping in months.”

Gauri Sarin, founder of Making Model Gurugram, a citizens’ initiative, said, “We need a mechanism for managing service quality which means fixing accountability, manpower, equipment, and disposal areas. The tendering process is an absolute failure. This is a full-blown change and project management exercise and needs a professional approach. RWA members can be engaged in ensuring a higher level of execution.”

Another key member of MMG, Ashwani Duggal, said private operators are more effective as compared to MCG staff. “Constant changes and transitions also take time. Inadequate manning and deployment of resources for sanitation is a huge issue. Zone 3, for instance, has only two tractor-trolleys and one JCB. Door-to-door collection is another challenge; it works with competitive private vendors. Disposal of waste has to be properly fixed,” he said.

MCG joint commissioner Naresh Kumar said they have launched a cleanliness drive across the city and teams have been formed to reinstate and improve the door-to-door waste collection system.

MCG commissioner Dr Narhari Singh Bangar said that the door-to-door garbage collection system has been launched in all wards of the municipal area. “Under Sweep, efforts are underway on a war footing to keep the municipal area clean. Employees are collecting garbage from homes using tractor trolleys, tippers, and rickshaw carts. This system not only ensures garbage collection directly from homes but also eliminates garbage vulnerable points, keeping streets, alleys, vacant plots, and other public places clean. Additionally, secondary collection points are being cleared rapidly, with waste being transported to the Bandhwari Waste Management Plant,” he said.

Officials said that residents can contact zone 1 officials at 8826003518, zone two at 8826003517, zone three at 8826005275, and zone four at 8826005285. The MCG commissioner said residents can contact the WhatsApp helpline number 7290097521 for any complaints or suggestions regarding general cleanliness or garbage issues, 7290076135 for horticulture waste, and 7290088127 for C&D waste.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    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