Latest news with #RajraniMalhotra
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Gurgaon 41st cleanest city, climbs nearly 100 spots in Swachh Sarvekshan 2024-'25 rankings
Gurgaon has been ranked the seventh cleanest city in Haryana and 41st nationally in the latest Swachh Survekshan results for 2024-25, declared on Thursday. The annual cleanliness survey under the Swachh Bharat Mission shows the strides made by the city in waste processing, pushing its rankings up from last year's 140th spot. However, the city has fared poorly in the area of waste segregation at source. The Swachh Survekshan, conducted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, assesses urban local bodies on metrics, including door-to-door (D2D) waste collection, source segregation (separating waste into dry, wet, and hazardous categories at the source), waste processing by treating and recycling waste, and sanitation certifications. Gurgaon achieved a 98 per cent waste processing rate and 59 per cent D2D collection, but recorded a mere 10 per cent source segregation rate. The city holds a Water+ certification in the open defecation-free category, indicating advanced wastewater and sewage treatment and reuse systems that meet environmental standards. However, it has not achieved a Garbage-Free City (GFC) star rating under comprehensive waste management that includes assessment of segregation, processing, and elimination of open dumping. 'With the help of residents, the city will aim to move to the top 10 rank in future surveys,' a Gurgaon Municipal Corporation spokesperson said. Gurgaon Mayor Rajrani Malhotra hailed the achievement, stating that it reflects the collective efforts of residents and the municipal team. 'With continued public support, Gurgaon will aim to rank among the cleanest cities next year. Residents are urged to segregate waste, hand it over to municipal vehicles on time, avoid littering public spaces, and promptly report cleanliness issues on the corporation's portal or app. This progress not only enhances Gurgaon's image but also sets an inspiring example under the Swachh Bharat Mission.' Pradeep Dahiya, Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) Commissioner, emphasised that the 41st rank is a result of teamwork involving elected representatives, sanitation workers, officials, and the public. 'The corporation is committed to sustained efforts to ensure Gurgaon ranks among the top clean cities in the next survey. Priorities include improving waste disposal, increasing D2D collection, enhancing source segregation, developing green zones, and launching cleanliness awareness campaigns,' Dahiya said. Karnal was ranked the cleanest city in Haryana with a national ranking of three. Residents express shock at rankings However, the results have come as a surprise for residents, with many raising doubts about the quantum jump in the rankings, although garbage is widely visible. 'It has to be a lie, it cannot be true, as one does not see any visible changes. Construction and demolition waste, open dumping, as well as wet waste, are seen all around. The only segregation that is done by bulk waste generators (residences, establishments, and institutes that produce over 100kg of dialy waste) and RWAs that can afford to charge user fees for the same,' Kusum Sharma, Residents Welfare Association member, Suncity, Sector 54, said. Chaitali Mandhotra, Ardee City RWA member and convenor of the United Gurugram RWAs forum, Sector 52, expressed shock at the rankings as garbage is dumped in the open all around the city. 'Anything can be done in this country this means. How can there still be such a big jump? There is little to no segregation or even pick up unless the areas pay', Mandhotra said. The latest rankings assume significance at a time when residents in Gurgaon have called for the municipal corporation to promptly transfer sanitation duties to Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) amid the rising garbage menace. Despite a proposed agreement for RWAs to take over these responsibilities, no formal policy has been established. In a meeting on May 18, more than 60 RWAs in Gurgaon had resolved to take over sanitation duties from the municipal corporation. The decision received in-principle approval from the previous municipal commissioner Ashok Garg, but the handover of sanitation duties has not commenced formally. Residents have alleged that current policies do not adequately address the garbage issues, leading residents to hire additional labour at their own expense. The existing policy only deals with the operation and maintenance of sanitation in sectors without specifying the number of labourers needed to be posted, said residents.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
MCG holds camp to fix property tax data errors
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) held a property tax correction camp at mayor Rajrani Malhotra's New Colony office on Sunday, drawing about 250 Zone 1 and Zone 2 residents seeking to fix data errors dating to 2022, and spawned 360,000 objections While the backlog has reduced from 11,029 cases late last year to 3,135 by March 26, officials said these delays left residents with little time to pay FY25 dues. 'There was also an expectation of a rebate from September 2024, which never materialised. That contributed to the delay in payments,' a senior MCG taxation official said. MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya reiterated that tax payment is mandatory under the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. 'Property tax must be deposited annually by March 31. Failure to do so attracts 18% interest, and defaulting properties may be sealed and auctioned,' he said. Despite reducing its FY25 target to ₹300 crore — down from ₹500 crore the previous year — the civic body collected only ₹240 crore, 5% less than the ₹254 crore gathered in FY24. The gap, officials said, is due to incorrect property records, pending disputes, and owners waiting for rebates. To expedite dispute resolution, MCG has empowered zonal officers to correct minor discrepancies and has launched a door-to-door survey to improve data accuracy. The civic body has also pushed online payment solutions and introduced a No Dues Certificate (NDC) portal for residents to verify and update records. While property tax remains Gurugram's largest revenue source, contributing a projected ₹300 crore to the city's ₹1,450 crore budget for 2025–26, officials admit that structural reforms and accurate data are essential for hitting targets. MCG has also shifted focus toward increasing income from stamp duty, building plan approvals, and advertisements to offset property tax underperformance.
