Union Min Calls For Collective Action To Build Sustainable Gurugram

Stressing the need for informed decision-making and collaborative action to address Gurugram’s growing environmental challenges, Union Minister of State and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh on Friday launched the Gurugram Sustainability Handbook 2026, a comprehensive report assessing the city’s sustainability landscape across key sectors, including water, waste, energy and mobility.

The handbook, the fifth publication in the series by civic organisation “Gurgaon First”, examines the city’s key environmental challenges, highlights emerging solutions and best practices, and proposes a roadmap for creating a more resilient and sustainable urban future. Besides sector-wise assessments, it also focuses on governance, citizen participation and institutional collaboration.

Launching the publication, Singh underscored the importance of collective efforts to address the city’s environmental concerns and encouraged stakeholders to work together to build a sustainable Gurugram.

Addressing the gathering, Shubhra Puri, founder and director of “Gurgaon First”, said credible information was essential for informed public participation and better urban governance.

“Gurgaon First strongly believes that good-quality, credible information is the foundation of active citizenship. We hope the handbook helps identify areas where Gurugram can do better, encourages informed conversations among stakeholders and sparks ideas, collaboration and, most importantly, action,” she said.

Researcher Aayush Dasgupta presented the handbook’s findings, while sector experts Chetan Aggarwal, Rahul Khera, Sarika Panda Bhatt and Sangeeta Nayyar shared insights into key sustainability issues facing the city.

According to the organisers, the publication is intended to serve as a resource for policymakers, businesses, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens by providing data-driven analysis and practical recommendations to improve sustainability outcomes.

Leena Dhankhar is the Bureau Chief of the Gurugram bureau at Hindustan Times, where she covers crime, excise, civic agencies, forests and wildlife, real estate, and politics. With over a decade of experience at the organisation, she has reported some of the region’s most impactful stories, known for her deep investigative work and on-ground reporting. Leena has extensively covered major crime cases, systemic lapses and financial irregularities, often exposing civic agency failures and prompting administrative action. Her journalism is driven by accountability, public interest, and a commitment to highlighting issues that shape everyday life in Gurugram.Read More