Cleanliness a key issue in Gurugram civic polls

Gurugram: Angry over poor upkeep of the city in terms of cleanliness, residents of Gurugram want to make it as one of the key issues when they would vote to elect their councillor on September 24. Despite slew of measures announced by the civic body towards ensuring cleanliness, residents have complained that the situation has not improved much.

One of the major complaints that have been raised is how the vacant plots in various residential colonies, sectors and main markets are being converted into the garbage dumpyards. In the past, a complaint was also sent to the Prime Minister Office in this regard on how the heaps of garbage were piling in a vacant area in Old Gurugram that had a primary school in close proximity. Similar complaints have also been raised by the residents of Sector-56, Sector-17 to the public officials.

In the cleanliness survey released by the Union Government out of 434 participating cities in May, Gurugram was placed at the 112th rank.

While the aim of the officials was to place Gurugram among the top 15 clean places of the country, the ranking has highlighted the challenges for clean Gurugram.

At a time when the city is grappling with diseases like diahorrea, dengue, malaria, citizens highlighted that these ailments are becoming widespread due to poor hygiene and sanitation.

Even though Municipal Corporation of Gurugram has signed a pact with a Chinese company to convert waste into power at Bandhwari landfill site, uncertainties have been raised on when the project will start.