Councillors in Gurgaon have escalated their demand for the formation of crucial ward committees, nine months after the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) house was elected. The elected representatives met with MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya on Friday, urging immediate action to constitute these mandated local governance panels.
Councillors Seek Urgent House Meeting
The councillors pressed Commissioner Dahiya to convene a meeting of the MCG House at the earliest to facilitate the creation of the ward committees. They argued that these panels are essential for effective local administration and that the prolonged delay has already hampered development work. The commissioner reportedly assured the councillors that the matter would be addressed in the next House meeting, though a specific date for this session has not yet been announced.
Why Ward Committees Matter for Gurgaon
Ward committees are statutory bodies designed to decentralize decision-making. Their composition includes the local councillor, representatives from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) or local residents, and concerned municipal officials. These committees are tasked with planning ward-level development, monitoring civic services like sanitation and water supply, and reporting local issues directly to the municipal administration.
Councillors highlighted that the absence of these committees has negatively impacted grassroots governance. "Forming ward committees is important to ensure works are carried out efficiently in the wards. We have requested an urgent meeting to constitute these panels," stated Avneesh Raghav, the councillor from ward 9.
Maintenance Handover: A Point of Contention
Several councillors pointed out that in previous terms, ward committees were formed soon after the House convened. The current lag, they say, affects the management of local assets like parks and community centers. Rakesh Yadav, councillor of ward 3, explained, "The maintenance of community centres and parks is currently being done by RWAs in several parts of the city. Once ward committees are formed, the maintenance will be handed over to them, making these panels accountable."
However, this proposed transfer of maintenance responsibilities is expected to face opposition from RWAs. Resident groups have historically argued that as primary users, they are better positioned to manage these facilities. Chaitali Mandhotra, a resident of Ardee City, voiced a common concern: "Taking back maintenance of parks from RWAs would disrupt a system that is working. The condition of parks was worse when they were maintained by ward committees."
The debate over the role of ward committees versus RWAs in maintaining local infrastructure is likely to be a key topic when the issue is finally tabled before the MCG House for discussion and resolution.
