Gurugram: Newly appointed MCG Commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg on Saturday directed officials to ensure that residents are provided with basic amenities meant for them. Garg also asked them to ensure that public grievances related to civic issues are heard and addressed carefully and reiterated that in case of negligence, action will be taken against the erring official.

At a meeting held on Saturday, Garg stressed that negligence or delays in handling civic complaints would not be tolerated, and warned that officials failing in their responsibilities would face appropriate action.

Garg emphasized that ensuring fundamental amenities such as clean water, efficient sewage management, processing of property taxes and cleanliness is the primary duty of the society. He pointed out that the majority of public grievances related to issues such as property tax disputes, sewer overflows, uncovered manholes and cleanliness, highlighting them as priority areas requiring immediate attention. “The quality of MCG’s work directly impacts the daily lives of residents. Better responsiveness will also improve the public image of the company,” Garg said.

The commissioner asked civil servants to adopt a more sensitive and proactive approach in handling grievances. During the grievance camp held on Friday, he advised officials to listen carefully to each complaint, set realistic resolution deadlines and communicate regularly with complainants regarding the progress of their issues. He recommended that officials maintain open and informal communication channels, in addition to formal updates, to ensure a more responsive administration. The grievance camp registered 38 complaints from city residents.

Garg also met with representatives of the Air Pollution Action Group, who shared specific complaints received on their platform regarding air quality and other pollution issues. The commissioner directed his team to address these complaints promptly and scheduled a follow-up review session the following Wednesday to assess progress.

In response to increasing pollution levels, Garg introduced the use of smog guns in key areas of Gurugram to mitigate dust and airborne particles, especially in high traffic areas and construction sites of construction. Smog guns, which spray a fine mist of water, have been shown to be effective in reducing particles in the air. “In the face of the air quality crisis, MCG is committed to taking all possible measures to protect the health of residents. Anti-smog guns will be deployed in pollution-prone areas to reduce air pollution, especially in densely populated areas of the city,” he said. The commissioner also said MCG would coordinate with private companies and construction sites to enforce the mandatory use of smog guns as part of air pollution control efforts.