‘Ensure basic amenities are given to Gurugram residents’: MCG chief
Garg pointed out that ensuring fundamental amenities such as clean water, effective sewage management, processing of property tax and cleanliness is the core duty of the corporation
Gurugram: New MCG commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg on Saturday directed officials to ensure that residents get basic amenities meant for them. Garg also told them to ensure that public grievances related to civic issues are heard carefully and addressed and reiterated that in case of negligence, action will be taken against the erring official.
Newly appointed MCG commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg held a meeting with MCG officials in Gurugram on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)
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At a meeting held on Saturday, Garg emphasised that negligence or delays in addressing civic complaints would not be tolerated, and warned that officials failing in their responsibilities would face appropriate action.
Garg pointed out that ensuring fundamental amenities such as clean water, effective sewage management, processing of property tax and cleanliness is the core duty of the corporation. He pointed out that the majority of public grievances related to issues like property tax disputes, sewer overflows, uncovered manholes and cleanliness, highlighting these as priority areas for immediate attention. “The quality of MCG’s work directly impacts residents’ daily lives. Better responsiveness will also enhance the public image of the corporation,” Garg said.
The commissioner instructed officials to take a more sensitive and proactive approach to grievance handling. During the grievance camp held on Friday, he advised officials to carefully listen to each complaint, set realistic timelines for resolution, and communicate regularly with complainants regarding the progress of their issues. He recommended that officials maintain open, informal channels of communication, in addition to formal updates, to ensure a more responsive administration. The grievance camp logged 38 complaints from city residents.
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Garg also met representatives from the Air Pollution Action Group, who shared specific complaints received on their platform related to air quality and other pollution concerns. The commissioner instructed his team to address these complaints swiftly and scheduled a follow-up review session for the following Wednesday to assess progress.
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Garg also met representatives from the Air Pollution Action Group, who shared specific complaints received on their platform related to air quality and other pollution concerns. The commissioner instructed his team to address these complaints swiftly and scheduled a follow-up review session for the following Wednesday to assess progress.
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In response to rising pollution levels, Garg introduced the use of smog guns in key areas of Gurugram to mitigate dust and airborne particles, especially in high-traffic zones and construction sites. Smog guns, which spray fine water mist, have proved effective in reducing particulate matter from the air. “Given the air quality crisis, MCG is committed to taking every possible measure to protect residents’ health. Smog guns will be deployed in pollution-prone areas to alleviate air pollution, especially in densely populated parts of the city,” he said. The commissioner also indicated that MCG would coordinate with private companies and construction sites to enforce the mandatory use of smog guns as part of air pollution control efforts.
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.
