How creek restoration helped divert water off roads and houses when it rained heavily in Gurgaon
The creek restoration in Gurgaon included waste removal, water management, and creating community spaces while addressing challenges like mixing sewage with stormwater.
The restoration efforts involve waste removal, water management, and biodiversity restoration while making the creeks community spaces by building pathways.(Photo: I am Gurgaon)
Amidst the Friday downpour in Gurgaon, some positive developments were witnessed in the areas through which Aravalli Creek passes. Over three years of creek restoration in an ecological manner by the NGO ‘I am Gurgaon’ (IAG) has borne fruit.
The efforts ensured proper cleaning and revitalisation of the stormwater channels at Chakkarpur-Wazirabad, Sikanderpur Pahadi, Badshahpur Forest corridor and Ghata Bundh, apart from the Aravalli creeks in Sectors 42, 43 Sectors 55, 56, and 57.
Throughout Friday, the stormwater collected at these areas was seamlessly diverted off the roads and residential areas, and eventually went towards recharging the groundwater table.
“Three years ago, when the Golf Course Road was fully flooded, they (administration) were going to build a concretised road. But we impressed and convinced them that the only way is to drain the rainwater into green areas.
The conditions of drains before November 2024(Photo: I am Gurgaon)
It worked in the first year, and now no water from MG road flows into Golf Course Road but through the creeks into the Aravallis,” said Latika Thukral, co-founder of the NGP, explaining how their eco-restoration works began.
The restoration efforts involve waste removal, water management, and biodiversity restoration while making the creeks community spaces by building pathways.
Over the years, a big challenge has been making manholes by the administration on roads leading to the drains, meaning the sewer and stormwater get mixed and polluted water is what is ultimately released.
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“These channels were never cleaned, and their capacity was low. The water would collect at the roadside. These were challenges. Stopping sewage flowing into the drains in the city (in stretches) is the biggest achievement. Hopefully, this monsoon, we will have more capacity since we have also constructed check dams. Paramount for these creeks to function is to stop sewage from flowing.”
All the funding is through corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, which works out best if the execution has to be ecologically sustainable, she said.
“Friday, wherever our projects are there, there was not a single drop of water that stayed on the road. It all flowed through the channels. We were not expecting the rain but are very happy it went well,” Thukral said.
A reel on the NGO’s Instagram page explained that the stormwater generated Friday helped feed native saplings and create moist, sheltered spots for insects, birds and small animals.
Abhimanyu Hazarika is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Gurgaon. He covers southern Haryana.
Education
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Print Media, Asian College of Journalism (Class of 2020)
- B.A. (Hons) Liberal Arts with a major in Political Science, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (Class of 2019)
Professional Experience
Before joining The Indian Express, he worked with Bar & Bench (legal journalism) and Frontline magazine, where he developed experience in court reporting, legal analysis, and long-form investigative features.
Reporting Interests
His work centres on civic accountability, environmental policy, urban infrastructure and culture, crime and law enforcement, and their intersections with politics and governance in and around Gurgaon.
Recent Coverage (2025)
- Crime: Reported on the recovery of 350 kg of explosives and an AK-47 from a rented house in Faridabad, linked to the 2025 Red Fort car explosion case (November 11, 2025).
- Environmental policy: Covered protests outside a Haryana minister’s residence against a Supreme Court order that environmentalists argue could allow mining and real estate development on large parts of the Aravalli hills (December 21, 2025).
- Pollution control measures: Co-authored coverage of the Rekha Gupta government’s enforcement of vehicle restrictions at Delhi-NCR borders (December 21, 2025).
- Road safety and infrastructure: Examined response lapses in the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway hit-and-run case and ongoing investigations into high-speed road crimes in Gurugram.
- Animal welfare policy: Reported on concerns regarding the low budget allocated for stray dog sterilization by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (November 30, 2025).
- Urban culture: Featured the social media-driven popularity of a new Magnolia Bakery outlet in Gurugram (December 15, 2025).
Contact
X (Twitter): @AB_Hazardous ... Read More
The conditions of drains before November 2024(Photo: I am Gurgaon)