Announcement done but GMDA yet to become a reality

GURUGRAM: It has been more than three months since Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced formation of Gurugram Development Authority (GDA) but the body has not been formed yet.

Announced on September 5, 2016, by the head of the state government, the centralised body was expected to be formally operational from November 1, the date when the state of Haryana was officially created. Once formed, it is expected that it would be responsible for key infrastructural developments in the city like maintenance of land records, road networks, drainage systems and horticultural projects. The centralised body will also be accountable for collection of External Development Charge (EDC) builders and utilise it for civil maintenance projects in the city.

Based on sources, there will also be involvement of the Chief Minister in supervising the affairs of the proposed body. Various challenges and dissent over the formation of the body has prevented the lack of clarity as to when it will be officially formed. A major challenge seems to be coming from the workers of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), the functions of which the body is expected to take over. There have been frequent strikes by the workers in HUDA resisting the formation of the body. Major differences have also been expressed over key ministers and bureaucrats handling the affairs of the body from Chandigarh and not from Gurugram.

Meanwhile, amid a lot of uncertainties, the state government has officially changed the name of Gurugram Development Authority to Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and formed its official site.

Speaking to Millennium Post, Cabinet minister in the state government for affairs of PWD, forests and industrial training, Rao Narbir Singh who has supported the need for formation of GMDA mentioned that the state government will form the GMDA despite the challenges. However, Singh refrained from providing the exact date for official formation of the GMDA. “The multiple civic agencies in Gurugram have stalled the infrastructural works in the city. The formation of GMDA will be an important step in its improvement. We have been told that the government may try to bring in the proposal of formation of the GMDA in the State Assembly session that will be convened in March,” said R S Rathee, president of Gurugram Citizens’ Council.