Admin working with flawed population estimates

The national census last year recorded the population in the Millennium City as 15.14 lakh, but the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has basic amenities for eight lakh only. This has led to major infrastructure-related crisis in the city.

The national census last year recorded the population in the Millennium City as 15.14 lakh, but the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has basic amenities for eight lakh only. This has led to major infrastructure-related crisis in the city.

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The eight lakh population to which Huda provides basic amenities is based on the 2001 census, which also include the population of Mewat, which is now a separate district.

“The planning by Huda for the city was based on the population record of 2001. The Indian Census 2011 did not count the floating population especially the migrants and, therefore, the figure was restricted to 15.14 lakh only. It was because of this under-estimation, the residents are facing problems like inadequate water and power supply, among other problems,” said RS Rathee, former president of DLF Qutub Enclave RWA (QERWA) who had moved the high court in 2009 on water supply issue.

But Huda officials had been maintaining that 75 MGD water supply for Gurgaon was sufficient, while the actual demand is 125 MGD, a deficit of 50MGD.

“We have realised the mistake. We are planning infrastructure for 40 lakh population. The facilities will come up in the new sectors earmarked in the Mast er Plan 2025,” said a senior Huda official.