Gurugram Drowns in Garbage as Haryana Dreams of Disneyland
Gurugram is battling overflowing garbage and civic apathy even as the Haryana government pitches grand plans to build a Disneyland-style amusement park in the state. The contradiction has sparked sharp public criticism, with former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor taking to social media to expose the worsening state of sanitation in the city.
Kapoor posted images of trash-strewn streets, cows feeding off litter, and stagnant waste in residential and commercial zones. Tagging the Gurugram Municipal Corporation and Haryana Chief Minister’s Office, he wrote: “Months later, worse than ever before. Shame on you… No respect for the land, for tax-paying citizens, and not even for the cows. And you want to build a Disneyland in Haryana?” The images show what many residents experience daily—filthy roads, overflowing bins, and clogged drains. Kapoor also criticised the administration’s frequent claim of launching an app to report garbage, calling it performative.
“Do they drive round blindfolded? I’m sure the app launch will be tom-tommed and then they’ll consider the job done,” he added.
The post triggered a wave of online reactions. Several citizens echoed his frustration, calling for the privatisation of municipal corporations in top-tier cities like Gurugram to ensure accountability. One user wrote, “If power companies can be privatised, why not municipal services? The babus clearly don’t care.” The civic breakdown, combined with political ambitions for Disneyland-like projects, has deepened the disconnect between daily realities and development narratives. Critics argue that instead of chasing image-driven mega projects, the state must first focus on fixing broken systems—sanitation, traffic, and infrastructure.
Despite the public outcry, there has been no official response from the Gurugram authorities or the state government at the time of writing. Meanwhile, residents continue to deal with worsening conditions and an apparent lack of urgency from civic bodies.
