Anticipating a 'New Deal'

  • Abhishek Behl / FG
  • India
  • Oct 31, 2014

 

Photo: Prakhar Pandey

With the new government taking shape in Chandigarh, a large number of local 'leaders' and bureaucrats are lobbying with the political masters to get plum postings in the new dispensation. The new government is likely to settle in a month or so, even as departments to the new ministers have been allotted. The people of Haryana, and of Gurgaon in particular, who have voted in large numbers for the BJP, are hoping that this new government will end the parochial and anti-farmer policies of the Congress government - which seemed to have worked only in favour of the builders  (completely forgetting the common man who had voted it to power). Gurgaonites expect the new government to develop a special agenda for the Millennium City, as it it the cash cow of the State. They believe that Gurgaon should be developed as the financial capital of Haryana. The priorities are: 

 

A unified agency for Gurgaon

It is being strongly felt that  there needs to be a systemic change in the administration of the City, as also greater local empowerment. It is for this reason that there has been a consistent demand for the setting up of a Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA - on the lines of the NOIDA Authority). Darshan Singh, CEO of Pan India, who has been working in the social sector for quite some time, says that the setting up of an agency like GDA will help streamline the administration and ensure the integrated planning, development and maintenance of the civic and social facilities and services in the City.  There are two opinions on the setting up of the GDA: one favours the NOIDA model, of having an authority that is headed by a CEO, while the other prefers empowering the MCG and bringing all development and maintenance under the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG). It would be the sole decision making authority of the City, and would be headed by an MCG Commissioner/Gurgaon Mayor. The argument of the latter is that an elected Mayor and Councillors are answerable to the public; but there is also apprehension that money and power seem to decide the elections in most of the wards. Most residents working in corporates, with some having been exposed to NOIDA model, prefer the CEO model, as they feel that well educated, experienced and honest bureaucrats can best serve the citizens. Everyone agrees that there is need to strengthen local governance, by vesting the MCG or the GDA with greater powers – as anyway envisaged and upheld by Constitution amendments. An important first move in this direction would be to transfer all HUDA sectors to the new governing body or the MCG. A way has also to be found to integrate the private builder colonies into the existing civic and social ecosystem of the City so that these do not remain 'islands'. "We have to find a way to ensure that Gurgaon emerges as a holistic city and not as a group of private colonies living in individual vacuums", says Parvesh Sharma, a resident. The importance of a single authority also stems from the fact that the City now needs to now make additional large capital expenditures, to ensure adequate water, power, sewage, transport and other facilities, as well as infrastructure for the new sectors. 


Reviewing the Gurgaon Manesar Master Plan 2031

Taking into account the existing requirements of the City, and also its capacity to expand, residents say that there is need to review the Master Plan 2031, which has been subject to ad hoc revisions, allegedly to accommodate builders. There is need to enquire into the 'wholesale' issue of licenses to private builders, while the infrastructure and services have been ignored. City planners suggest that there is need to have a balanced development of residential, commercial, industrial and social areas. Currently this seems to depend on the clout of the builder. A City-based real estate broker says that Gurgaon was basically meant to be a city of plotted colonies, but the majority of the builders bought the plots from the owners, and consolidated the same to build multi-storeyed apartments. "This is how the City has been 'planned' and 'developed', and there is little one can do now. However, the mistakes should not be repeated in the new Gurgaon sectors," he asserts. The new government would have to take a relook at the pace of development, or create commensurate infrastructure, suggest experts. Further, the new government must ensure that the power to utilise city land, and its development and re-development, is vested with the local government agency. Sharad Goel, a Gurgaon-based businessman, suggests that technology should be used to 'map' and digitise Gurgaon in a proper manner and help in the timely monitoring of the development projects of the City. "Any kind of violation, including the setting up 'illegal' colonies, needs be checked well in time, but this will only happen when initiative is taken and basic rules are implemented," asserts Goel. He laments that there is little hope from politicians, irrespective of their parties. 


Resolution of IAF Depot restricted area (900 meters), and regularisation of unauthorised colonies

The issue of the restricted area around the Air Force Ammunition Depot has become a political football for all the political parties, who have patronised the current residents, given them money to build streets, and ensured that a large number of their voters continue to live in this area. However, none of the parties or politicians is ready to resolve this tricky issue, which involves multiple stakeholders – and the High Court. The residents are now hoping that, with BJP in the Centre and in the State, their disputed status could end once and for all. There are almost 2 lakh residents living in this area, who need to be 'accommodated'. Maybe the Depot needs to be shifted, or the restricted area reduced. This issue needs to be resolved soon, else it would remain a festering sore in the heart of the City. A related issue is the regularisation of a large number of illegal colonies in Gurgaon, and of providing basic facilities and services to their residents. Almost half the population of Gurgaon is living in these colonies, and they are being treated as second class citizens. Akshay, a resident of one such colony across the rail track, says that the situation is very bad, and there is restlessness among the people. Another related issue is the availability of affordable housing for the economically weaker sections and industrial workers. Sumit, a factory owner, says that his labour has to live in congested ghettos, as there is no provision of housing for workers. In his opinion, HSIIDC should set up multi-storeyed small apartments for workers, and lease them out, so that Gurgaon remains an attractive manufacturing destination. 


A transport system for the City

Gurgaon is perhaps the only city in the world that has global ambitions but no local transport service to speak of! Arrogant auto rickshaw drivers and a poor bus service are the reality today. The government needs to understand that there is a limit to which private enterprise can sustain in the absence of proper civic and social facilities. There is urgent need for a commuting system that is cheap, eco-friendly and safe. Sanjiv Sharma, a broker, says that it is high time Gurgaon is connected with the Dwarka Metro, and this service is brought to 'old' Gurgaon as well. Sharma also feels that the Metro should be extended at least upto Hero Honda Chowk via Subhash Chowk, so as to cover some Udyog Vihar areas. 


Making Gurgaon water-sufficient

One of the most critical problems being faced by the Millennium City is the fast depletion of the water table. There are also no natural sources of water available to the City. The illegal tubewells, in both private colonies as well as unauthorised areas, are sucking the ground beneath us dry. Darshan Singh (PAN India) says that water tankers are being used to 'import' water from 40 kms away now, and if this situation continues the entire water eco-system could be destroyed. "The catchment areas of the Aravallis have been blocked, and there is no natural rain water harvesting. Gurgaon also has no natural lake or river," he says. Experts suggest that the City needs to urgently hand over the water supply and management to a single body. That body should conduct an audit of the City's needs, assess the supply situation, find out how much water can be recycled, and plan a future course of action. Bhawani Shanker Tripathi, founder member of the Mission Gurgaon Development, suggests that there needs to be a comprehensive water security plan for Gurgaon for the next 50 years, which must be revised every 5 years. He also suggests aggressive recycling and reuse of water, and use of fresh water only for activities that are absolutely essential. Sharad Goel says that there is need for the revival of all village ponds and natural sources of water, and this could also be done by setting up artificial ponds. "In all the low lying areas of Gurgaon the authorities can build artificial ponds with kuccha bottoms, which can also ensure seepage of water into the ground. Why should we waste water by sending it to the Najafgarh drain?” he asserts. Goel also wants a strict check on the tanker mafia, which is continuing to exploit the ground water and contributing significantly to the depleting water table. Darshan Singh opines that rainwater harvesting should be used intelligently, and the City should try to attain zero discharge in the catchment areas. Experts also suggest that there is need to upgrade the supply infrastructure, which can be done by replacing pipelines, plugging leakages, stopping theft of water from main lines, and metering all the supply, using better technology. 


Making the Bandhwari waste treatment plant work

The manner in which waste is handled in Gurgaon is shocking; but even more problematic is the fact that the waste treatment plant at Bandhwari has become dysfunctional - and in fact is today just a dumping ground for solid waste. The Plant needs to be made operational urgently; it serves both Gurgaon and Faridabad. Experts suggest that recycling and re-use should become the mantra, and this can be implemented by taking some simple steps. The sewerage could be treated by setting up mandatory STPs in apartment complexes as well as in builder colonies. However, this is possible only if the there is a dedicated  agency that can monitor and enforce the regulations. 

  

 

Making healthcare delivery work 

The new government in Gurgaon will have to upgrade the Civil Hospital, and also ensure that the hospital in Sector 10, which has taken years to complete, becomes functional. These government hospitals need to deliver, and take inspiration from many hospitals in Delhi, which despite being in public domain are serving society well. The government must also ensure that large private hospitals, including Medanta, Fortis and Artemis, which have taken land on subsidised rates, deliver on their promise of serving the poor free of cost. 


Making Gurgaon more green

The new government will have to push for more greenery, development of green belts and the protection of the Aravallis. The previous government unfortunately went out of its way to promote real estate at the cost of the ecology and the environment. Every project small or large should be subject to a mandatory Impact Assessment. Open spaces, parks and nature reserves like the Bio-diversity Park should be administered by the government, in participation will relevant stakeholders. These should not become fiefdoms of particular NGOs – who, in the name of development, have failed to do much, allege some activists. The corporate residents of Gurgaon are also pushing for the promotion of non-motorised transport and cycle tracks in the City. 


Time for change 

All the objectives and goals listed above have remained in the public domain for the last 5 years at least, but nothing concrete could happen because of the fixation of the erstwhile Congress government with 'builders and Rohtak', and the craze to somehow monetise all the real estate in the City. Now, with a new government at the helm, led by CM Manohar Lal Khattar and guided by PM Modi, Gurgaonites are expecting things to change – and hopefully fast. If the 'right' directions come from the top, the City residents feel that the bureaucracy will have to respond positively. There is also a strong demand that officials who had made hay while the Congress sun shone should be at least repatriated to their parent districts and departments and Gurgaon must get a new set of officials and bureaucrats – with cleaner antecedents and a commitment to better the lives of the citizens.

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