Following a five-day demolition drive by the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) across colonies in Gurgaon, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has refused to lift the debris, stating that it is not responsible for clearing construction and demolition waste it did not generate. Citing waste management rules, the civic body has asked DTCP to transport the debris to its Basai processing plant. As agencies trade responsibility, rubble from razed structures continues to choke roads and reduce parking space, triggering anger among residents.
MCG Declines Responsibility
Drawing a clear line on responsibility after the demolition drive, MCG has declined to lift construction and demolition (C&D) waste generated by enforcement actions carried out by DTCP. Even as the agencies pass the buck, residents await the pickup of debris, which has transformed from illegal extensions into hazardous material on the road. In a communication to the district town planner (enforcement), MCG clarified that the responsibility for handling and disposing of the debris lies with the waste generator—in this case, DTCP, which conducted the demolitions. Citing provisions under the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2025, the civic body emphasised that any entity generating demolition waste must ensure its transportation and disposal at designated facilities. Accordingly, DTCP has been directed to immediately transport the debris to MCG's authorised processing plant located in Basai.
DTCP's Post-Demolition Plan
DTCP earlier issued formal directions to both developers and MCG through letters, laying out a structured post-demolition plan. Developers and the civic body were tasked with area-specific restoration of internal roads as per the right of way approved in layout plans, with compliance to be submitted within 15 days. The letters also mandated immediate removal of construction debris left behind after demolition—a key concern raised by residents across colonies. MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said, "I called the DTP for a meeting and told them clearly that it is their mandate to clear the debris. I have been assured that arrangements will be made to clear the debris and transport it to our Basai plant." TOI reached out to DTCP, which refused to comment on the matter. The civic body underscored that it will not undertake lifting of such waste and has asked the department to ensure timely compliance to avoid accumulation across demolition sites. Officials warned that any delay or non-compliance could attract action under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The move highlights a strict interpretation of waste management norms, placing accountability squarely on the agency responsible for generating debris, even in government-led enforcement drives.
Residents Voice Anger
Residents, meanwhile, called the situation "unacceptable." Deepak Gugnani, a resident of Sector 54, said, "Debris from the demolition of guard rooms, pavements, and ramps has been left uncleared, choking the area and effectively reducing it to a single usable lane. This has severely cut down parking space and created daily chaos during school hours. Those responsible for the encroachments should be compelled to clear the debris immediately and penalised for the mess left behind." Ashwani Duggal, a resident of South City 1, added, "Debris has been left after demolition on the roads like it is nobody's responsibility. The basic problem here is that if debris is left in such a manner, it gives the licence to people to throw other things as well because of the lack of civic sense, and soon our roads will turn into dump yards. Another problem is that materials such as metals and iron dumped on the roadsides can damage our vehicles."
Environmentalists Criticize Lack of Planning
Environmentalists said DTCP cannot walk away from the aftermath of the demolitions. Chetan Agarwal, an environmentalist, stated, "It's unacceptable that no one has taken responsibility for clearing the debris—whether it's DTCP or MCG. This should have been planned before the demolition drive even began. Either DTCP must ensure clearance or hold the encroachers accountable for it. What's missing here is a basic, systemic approach to governance."
