Gurugram: Gurugram is grappling with a deepening sanitation emergency as garbage heaps grow unchecked in major residential sectors. Waste collection services across the city have ground to a halt following the sudden disappearance of hundreds of Bengali-speaking migrant workers, triggering mounting public frustration and health concerns.
For nearly a week, neighbourhoods such as Sector 56, Palam Vihar, and Golf Course Extension Road have reported overflowing bins and rotting waste. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has acknowledged the disruption, blaming the exodus of informal waste workers who form the backbone of the city’s sanitation system.
According to residents and local community leaders, the flight of workers was sparked by an ongoing police verification campaign targeting suspected illegal immigrants. While the drive is officially aimed at identifying undocumented foreigners, particularly Bangladeshis, those affected claim they are Indian citizens facing harassment due to their language and appearance.
A senior MCG official, requesting anonymity, admitted, “We were not prepared for this sudden vacuum. Most of the waste handlers left overnight, and our daily waste clearance operations are now severely crippled.”
Police sources confirmed that the operation is being conducted under central government directives, with migrant workers being detained pending verification of their documents. In many cases, even those possessing Aadhaar cards have been taken into custody while their credentials are cross-checked with authorities in their home states.
“I’ve lived here for 12 years and never faced such fear,” said Kamal Das, a waste collector who left the city earlier this week. “Now, even having papers doesn’t seem enough.”
Human rights advocates and urban planners have condemned the crackdown, stating it criminalizes a vital workforce rather than addressing gaps in documentation. “The civic system relies on these workers without giving them formal recognition or protection,” said Nisha Malhotra, an urban policy researcher. “This was a disaster waiting to happen.”
Social media has fueled the crisis with misinformation. A viral post claiming the mass departure was due to a crackdown on “Bangladeshi illegals” ignited a wave of xenophobic responses online. However, residents and civil society groups maintain that most of those affected are legitimate Indian citizens with deep roots in the city.
