From squalor to blocked drains, poor civic amenities to dominate Faridabad MC polls

Civic problems such as poor garbage disposal, choked sewers, blocked drains, damaged roads, inadequate water supply, insanitary conditions and lack of streetlights are among several key issues that are likely to dominate the MC elections in Faridabad.

The polls are being held after a gap of eight years, and the contestants will have to earn the support and confidence of the voters by assuring them timely resolution of these civic problems. Around 14.70 lakh residents will elect the city Mayor and representatives for 46 civic wards on March 2.

“As the lack of civic amenities have always been a matter of concern in every election, such problems have got prominent as the representatives to be elected are expected to get these resolved, thus bridging a gap between the residents and the authorities concerned,” says Deepak Chaudhary, a former member of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF), and a candidate from a ward here.

“Solid waste disposal, choked sewers, encroachments and failure to begin development works in over 100 colonies regularised by the government last year are key issues,” said Paras Bhardwaj, a social activist associated with ‘Save Faridabad’ — an NGO here. Claiming that civic amenities had degraded over the years, he said the newly elected representatives would be faced with a challenge as the MCF had failed to address the issues of the residents. He said hundreds of tonnes of civic waste was being dumped on roads or in the open. “The city is in the grip of an encroachment mafia that enjoys political patronage,” he says, alleging that all green belts and public spaces had been occupied illegally and the rent collected to the tune of several lakhs daily had gone into private hands.

Claiming that poor cleanliness, improper waste disposal, stray animals and dust pollution had turned the city into a pollution hub, AK Gaur, a resident here, said he had received a response regarding a complaint lodged by him on civic amenities after nearly two years as he has been told that the matter would be heard by the Haryana Human Rights Commission on May 13, 2025.

Vishnu Goel, a resident, said the candidates had been faced with challenge of winning the confidence of the people as the latter were fed up of the administration’s failure to provide any relief. “Only those candidates deserve to get elected who would assure the public that they are in their service and not working for welfare of the party, says Abhash Chandela, a local leader of the AAP.

As many as 221 candidates, including those fielded by the BJP, Congress and AAP are in fray for a total 46 civic wards in these polls. Six candidates have also been vying for the mayoral post, for which direct election will be held this time for the post.