Gurgaon Councillors Slam Waste Collection Lapses Despite Rs 9.6 Crore Contracts
Councillors in Gurgaon raised serious concerns on Monday about the inadequate deployment of vehicles for doorstep waste collection. They also highlighted the failure to ensure proper waste segregation. This issue emerged just one week after the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon awarded six-month work orders worth Rs 9.6 crore to four private agencies.
Review Meeting Exposes Implementation Gaps
The problem came to light during a review meeting chaired by Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra. MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya and senior officials attended the session. Councillors pointed out that the agencies failed to provide the required number of vehicles even though the work had formally started.
They described this lapse as serious. The shortfall at such an early stage indicates weak implementation and monitoring. Councillors also emphasized that the waste collection vehicles lacked proper compartments. This flaw defeats the entire purpose of source segregation.
Specific Ward Complaints Highlight Shortages
A councillor present at the meeting requested anonymity. He stated, "Multiple wards in the city face the problem of inadequate vehicles from these agencies. This is a new tender, and we did not expect such issues right at the beginning."
Mahabir, councillor of ward number 10, provided a concrete example. His ward requires twelve vehicles to cover the entire area for doorstep waste collection. However, the agencies supplied only three vehicles.
"There is a gap of nine vehicles," Mahabir explained. "Residents have complained to me because waste collection will not be complete with so few vehicles. We raised this issue in Monday's meeting." He added that MCG officials assured him the problem would be resolved by Thursday.
Segregation Efforts Hampered by Vehicle Design
Another councillor, also requesting anonymity, shared further concerns. "Residents in my ward are educated and willing to segregate their waste," he said. "However, the vehicles under this new contract do not facilitate segregated collection. This is a major problem alongside the shortage of vehicles."
MCG Announces Tech-Driven Monitoring Solutions
During the meeting, MCG officials announced new measures to address these issues. They made it mandatory for all waste collection vehicles to be GPS-enabled. Online monitoring of these vehicles will also become compulsory to track their movement and performance.
The civic body plans to develop an online platform. This system will allow councillors from respective wards to monitor vehicle movement directly. It aims to ensure regular and efficient waste collection.
Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya issued a stern warning. He stated that negligence in waste management would not be tolerated at any level. Dahiya emphasized the use of technology-driven monitoring, clear accountability, and strict enforcement to improve Gurgaon's cleanliness system.
No User Fees for Residents
Officials provided important clarification during the meeting. They confirmed that no fee will be charged from residents for door-to-door garbage collection. This arrangement extends for six months starting from January this year.
Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra reinforced this point. "There is no provision to levy any user charge for garbage collection," she said. "Residents should not pay any amount in the name of waste collection."
The mayor's statement aligns with earlier reports that residents would not face user charges for the six-month doorstep waste collection service.
