Gurugram, May 3 -- Gurugram's persistent waterlogging crisis during the monsoon season is neither accidental nor unforeseen-- it is a direct consequence of decades of poor urban planning, choked drainage systems and chronic administrative negligence. Despite the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) repeatedly identifying over 100 waterlogging hotspots each year, no concrete long-term solution has materialised, leaving residents angry every monsoon season. A primary culprit is the city's ageing and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Stormwater drains across Gurugram are perpetually clogged with plastic waste, construction debris and horticultural refuse. Without proper cleaning or periodic maintenance, these drains remain ineffective, quickly overflowing onto major roads during heavy rains. Encroachments over natural water channels-locally known as nullahs- aggravate the issue, disrupting natural water flows and preventing efficient drainage. Poor coordination between multiple civic bodies also adds to the problem. While GMDA claims it undertakes annual maintenance of stormwater drains, its measures often appear inadequate. According to city-based urban planners, temporary solutions such as de-silting drives and makeshift pumping systems have failed to address the underlying issues. This lack of coordinated, comprehensive drainage planning between civic authorities and urban developers has repeatedly rendered Gurugram's infrastructure powerless against heavy rain. Moreover, rampant, unregulated construction across the city's catchment areas has drastically reduced Gurugram's natural drainage capacity. Private developers, in violation of building norms, have constructed high-rise complexes and commercial establishments on critical floodplains and former water bodies without ensuring proper stormwater drainage mechanisms. The unchecked encroachment of natural streams and wetlands further adds to the crisis, as these spaces earlier acted as natural sinks for rainwater. GMDA officials, however, claim they are taking steps towards improvement. Vikram Singh, executive engineer, GMDA, said, "We have deployed teams to clear drains blocked by plastic. Maintenance work at critical underpasses is also being conducted."...