Civic apathy, rain amplify Ggm’s sanitation crisis

Beneath Gurugram’s gleaming skyscrapers and “Smart City” label lies a deepening garbage crisis that has not only overwhelmed residents but exposed glaring lapses in civic planning. From overflowing garbage bins and waterlogged roads to illegal dumping and open burning of electronic waste, the city is battling a sanitation breakdown — made worse by rains and civic apathy.

- Leena Dhankhar

City areas such as Sector 45, 56, 57, 48, 50, Golf Course Extension Road, Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) and many more parts of the city have turned into garbage hotspots, with residents complaining of no regular collection and zero accountability. Despite the appointment of private agencies for e-waste collection, discarded appliances and toxic materials are being dumped in public places or burned near residential zones, creating a serious health hazard.

“The garbage is not confined to one corner anymore. It's literally everywhere — from the gates of apartment complexes to school entrances and green belts,” said Amit Gupta, a resident of Sector 46. “We are now constantly sharing photos and videos on our society groups, tagging officials and councillors just to get a response.”

Voicing the frustration of thousands of citizens, businessman and columnist Suhel Seth launched a scathing attack on the administration and political leadership for allowing the situation to spiral out of control.

“This is no longer just about garbage lying on the roads — this is about the complete collapse of civic governance in Gurugram. For the past five days, I have been raising this issue on every social media platform— and still, not one official has stepped out or taken charge,” Seth said.