Gurgaon: With Haryana cabinet set to meet in the city for the first time on Wednesday, an internal meeting on Monday discussed an urgent citywide cleanup plan, exposing a familiar pattern of last-minute governance tied to high-profile visits. Officials issued instructions to intensify sanitation across the city, especially along NH-8 and key junctions such as Rajiv Chowk and IFFCO Chowk.The plan focuses on road sweeping, dust control, removal of construction waste and clearing stray cattle from major roads. Officials also discussed deploying water sprinklers at key junctions, including Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, and near PWD Rest House, where the cabinet meeting will be held. A special cleanliness drive has been ordered along NH-8, one of the city’s most prominent stretches, from Sirhaul toll plaza to Kherki Daula.The problems MCG is trying to tackle, including dust pollution, construction and demolition waste, and stray cattle menace, are longstanding. “They have troubled the city for years despite repeated claims of improvement. Yet only now, ahead of the cabinet meeting, have MCG officials been directed to act in mission mode,” said Lalit Suraj Bhola, a resident of Sector 9 A.Officials have emphasized strict compliance with sanitation standards and asked field staff to ensure visible cleanliness across all zones. Focus is being given to high-visibility routes that are likely to be used by visiting dignitaries.One of the key priorities discussed was removal of stray cattle from arterial roads and identified hotspots, an issue that has long posed safety risks and dented the city’s image. There is also a renewed push to clear construction and demolition waste from major locations, including PWD Rest House, NH-8, the stretch from Rajiv Chowk to Sohna Chowk, and other major intersections.“In view of the cabinet meeting in the city, officials have been directed that thorough cleaning be ensured on both sides of NH-8 and its service roads, from Delhi Toll Plaza to Kherki Daula Toll Plaza,” said a senior MCG official privy to the matter.Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, often criticized for illegal dumping, is also under close watch after urban local bodies minister Vipul Goel recently directed MCG officials to remove debris from the stretch.Plans to deploy water sprinklers at prominent locations to curb dust were also discussed. The marked sites include PWD Rest House, Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, and Hero Honda Chowk.Officials have been asked to fast-track implementation and closely monitor progress in the run-up to the cabinet meeting. The drive includes tighter oversight and better coordination among different divisions.The urgency also comes amid persistent problems faced by residents due to the absence of streamlined door-to-door waste collection and road-sweeping contractors.For residents, the cleanup drive underscores a deeper concern: why do basic civic responsibilities require the trigger of a high-profile event?“It’s a cosmetic solution. Dust problem needs systemic intervention, not just deploying sprinklers before VIP movement. These officials, led by the CM, should conduct a surprise check in the city to understand what is happening on the ground. I also found cutting down of thick branches of trees in front of PWD Rest House, which was recently banned by Punjab and Haryana High Court,” said Vaishali Rana, a city-based environmental activist.
