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MCG launches cleanliness drive in Gurugram city

The drive, launched ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, saw the participation of senior MCG officials, employees and prominent citizens of Gurugram, all of whom came together in a collective effort to promote cleanliness and responsible civic behaviour

Published on: Apr 13, 2025, 06:34:14 IST
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Gurugram: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Saturday launched a special cleanliness drive across key locations in the city. The initiative, flagged off by MCG commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg from Iffco Chowk, is aimed at transforming major intersections and arterial roads by ensuring they remain clean, removing encroachments and planting saplings to promote a healthier environment, officials said.

The initiative, flagged off by MCG commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg from Iffco Chowk, is aimed at transforming major intersections and arterial roads by ensuring they remain clean. (HT PHOTO)
The initiative, flagged off by MCG commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg from Iffco Chowk, is aimed at transforming major intersections and arterial roads by ensuring they remain clean. (HT PHOTO)

The drive, launched ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, saw the participation of senior MCG officials, employees and prominent citizens of Gurugram, all of whom came together in a collective effort to promote cleanliness and responsible civic behaviour.

Starting from Iffco Chowk, the campaign covered other prominent locations like Millennium City Centre metro station and Rajiv Chowk, where Garg, along with additional commissioner Mahavir Prasad and other officials led the initiative by planting saplings.

He said that the campaign is inspired by Dr Ambedkar’s vision of an inclusive and clean society. He urged residents to take ownership of their surroundings and actively participate in keeping the city clean and encroachment-free.

“Every citizen must treat public spaces like their own homes. Just as we maintain cleanliness in our homes and workplaces, it is equally important to ensure cleanliness in public places,” Garg said, adding that encroachments not only cause inconvenience to pedestrians but also disrupts traffic movement.

He said the corporation has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments and that similar drives will be conducted in different parts of the city in a phased manner.

Additional commissioner Mahavir Prasad said that the initiative is not limited to cleanliness alone but also focuses on plantation drives, public awareness, and citizen engagement. “This is a continuous campaign aimed at making Gurugram clean, green, and encroachment-free,” he said.

Former sarpanch of Chakkarpur village, Mahesh Yadav, said the campaign is not just a step towards a cleaner city but also a means to spread awareness in society.

Anti-encroachment action begins

Alongside the cleanliness drive, the MCG also launched an anti-encroachment campaign on Saturday targeting illegal structures and vendors occupying public spaces. Under the supervision of assistant engineer Dalip Singh Yadav, the enforcement team carried out a crackdown at Iffco Chowk, MG Road and nearby locations.

The team removed illegal kiosks, roadside stalls, makeshift sheds and other encroachments that were obstructing footpaths and roads.

Garg said that the campaign to remove encroachments from roads, footpaths, and public places is being undertaken in public interest. “Encroachments cause traffic congestion and inconvenience to pedestrians. The civic body has adopted a zero-tolerance approach against such practices, and the drive will continue in the coming days,” he said.

  • 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