CM Saini orders prompt redress of civic issues in Gurugram

With civic issues accounting for majority of the complaints in grievance committee meetings, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said it was high time the authorities started acting proactively to resolve residents’ issues.

During the meeting held here on Wednesday, Saini ordered penal action against the Executive Engineer of the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram (MCG), for failing to resolve the problem of sewage overflow in Begumpur Khatola village.

“We cannot have this. We cannot make people run around for basic civic amentities. The officials need to change their working style and address the issues or be ready for similar action. Don’t wait for people to complain and plead. Take proactive action if you get to know of the problem; this will expedite the resolution,” said Saini.

Talking about Begumpur Khatola, the CM instructed the officials to resolve the problem within three weeks and submit updated photographs of the affected area to his office. The Tribune has repeatedly highlighted the sewage overflow crisis in the village and how it is an obstruction even for children going to school.

“It’s been two years that we have been going from one office to another. The village streets are full of dirty water and despite inspections having been carried out, the MCG has failed to do provide a solution to us. Now, they want to set up a construction demolition waste unit, which will further hamper the possibility of setting up of a new sewerage treatment plant,” the complainant submitted.

A total of 19 such complaints were presented in the meeting, and according to the authorities, 18 had been resolved. Addressing the construction and demolition (C&D) crisis in the city, Saini directed the Municipal Commissioner to recruit additional manpower through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited (HKRNL) for the lifting of C&D waste material at Laser Valley Ground in Sector 29 as well as for door-to-door garbage collection.

Responding to complaints regarding waterlogging and poor maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems in Gurugram, the CM directed the department concerned to ensure that all 404 rainwater harvesting units in the district were thoroughly cleaned before the onset of the monsoon season.

During the meeting, the CM also set a deadline before the next review meeting for the completion of development works related to Sector 4. Additionally, addressing a complaint from the Sarpanch of Mubarakpur village regarding the lack of electricity connection to the village for over a year, the Deputy Commissioner was instructed to personally investigate the issue and take strict action against the negligent officials.

During the meeting, a senior citizen from Kadarpur village had reported that his brother had sold his share of their ancestral land, but his own portion was illegally encroached upon in collusion with the buyer. Despite repeated appeals, no action had been taken by the authorities concerned. Taking serious note of the complaint, the CM directed the police officials to register an FIR against both the buyer and seller. He also instructed the Tehsildar concerned to expedite revenue-related proceedings.

In response to a Sohna-based farmer, who reported illegal encroachment involving the demolition of a room constructed in his field, the CM ordered the SDM to ensure the restoration of possession within 10 days and take strict action against any officials found negligent in the investigation.

The CM inspected Haryana’s first ‘Complete Streets’ initiative, walking through the site in Udyog Vihar in Sector 18, Gurugram. He remarked that the ‘Complete Streets’ concept reflects the state government’s commitment to providing everyone with the right to walk safely and with dignity. The project demonstrates the transformative potential of collaboration among the government, private sector and civil society.

The project has been implemented along the Sanath road and Gali No. 7 in Udyog Vihar, covering a stretch of 2.4 km with a width of 30 m. This road connects Old Delhi Road to the Airtel office on NH 48. The project’s total cost is estimated to be approximately Rs 23 crore, jointly funded by the GMDA, MCG, DHBVN and the Raahgiri Foundation. Private partners such as Nagarro, Maruti Suzuki and SafeExpress also contributed, setting a remarkable precedent for public-private partnership.

Key features of the project include wide and shaded footpaths for pedestrians, safe track for cyclists, bioswales for rainwater harvesting, and the preservation of 700 mature trees. In addition, over 20,000 flowering plants have been planted. To ensure safety, four trained street marshals have been deployed around the clock. This model is set to become an inspiration for cities across Haryana and the rest of India.

The GMDA is now planning to redevelop an additional 100 km of roads based on the ‘Complete Streets’ model over the next two years.

Haryana Tribune