The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has suspended a junior engineer and issued a show-cause notice to a contractor for failing to deploy pumping equipment on time during heavy rainfall, marking its first instance of taking simultaneous action against both an official and a contracted agency over monsoon waterlogging.
Junior Engineer Sumit Chahal was suspended with immediate effect after pump sets were not made available on time in Sector 14 and Sector 17C, resulting in prolonged waterlogging during heavy rain on July 28. The suspension was ordered under the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016.
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According to the MCG, all officials had been instructed before the monsoon to position pump sets at waterlogging-prone locations and ensure quick drainage during heavy rainfall. However, the required equipment was not deployed in the affected sectors, leaving roads submerged for several hours and causing major inconvenience to commuters and residents.
The civic body has also issued a show-cause notice to The Hazarilal Cooperative Labour and Construction Society Limited, the agency responsible for pumping operations in Ward 25. The agency has been directed to submit its explanation within two days for failing to provide pumping machinery despite contractual obligations.
The corporation said repeated verbal and telephonic instructions had been issued to the agency to deploy machinery at identified waterlogging locations before the rainfall. However, pumping arrangements were not made in time on July 28, leading to continued water accumulation in the area.
The MCG warned that if the agency fails to provide a satisfactory explanation, it may face cancellation of its work order, forfeiture of its security deposit, blacklisting, and other action as per the terms of the contract.
Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said monsoon management is directly linked to public safety and convenience, and negligence at any level will not be tolerated. He said strict action will be taken against both officials and contractors who fail to discharge their responsibilities during the monsoon season.
