Councillors ‘unaware’ of duties

Though the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) is soon to get its first mayor, people of Gurgaon may not find their representatives living up to their pre-poll promises due to ignorance about their own duties.

Though the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) is soon to get its first mayor, people of Gurgaon may not find their representatives living up to their pre-poll promises due to ignorance about their own duties.

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The corporation has done little to change the face of Gurgaon in terms of propagating education and culture or in safeguarding the interest of the weaker section of society.

Now, the onus is on the elected representatives to assign these duties to the three-year-old corporation.

But it is unfortunate that most of the councillors HT has spoken to are unaware of these duties. Ask any councillor about them, chances are that you will hear a cliche: “I will ensure that the roads are repaired, people get water supply and sewage are maintained.”

But few broached bigger problems such as removal of urban poverty, promotion of education and upliftment of weaker section of society.

According to the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, the government (elected councillors) can assign the corporation with these tasks.

The MCG has failed to discharge these duties so far. According to a recent RTI reply, MCG runs only one school for a population of 15.14 lakh (2011 census).