By Prof Dr Sanjukkta BhaduriGurgaon is known worldwide for offices of Fortune 500 companies, industries, malls, high-end housing and condominiums . The city has developed into a major economic centre with about 7 lakh workers, including direct and indirect employment. This has led to phenomenal growth as the city has become a coveted destination for work, home and shopping. Its annual population growth rate has also increased from 7.4% (2001-2011) to 10-15% in the last six years.With population growth, there has been a commensurate increase in the city's spread from less than 50 sqkm in 1981 to more than 200 sqkm in 2011. Large tracts of agricultural lands were annexed and the development ignored its natural heritage, including the hills, forests, water channels, natural landform and drainage patterns, resulting in waterlogging and flash floods The percentage of open spaces, according to the Gurgaon Manesar Master Plan 2031 is 9%. This is almost 50% less than the Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines, 2015, that recommend 14-16%.Gurgaon signified piecemeal and haphazard development; growth by pockets of residential gated colonies (some of the country's most expensive) and office blocks developed by private developers whose surrounding areas were not developed by government agencies. Over the years, this accumulated in severe deficiencies and stress on transport, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, power supply and social facilities.The process of planning and development of Gurgaon did not include its diverse requirements, concerns and suggestions of stakeholders. There was no mention of public participation in the city's master plans. The land-use distribution of the Master Plan 2031 as compared to URDPFI 2015 shows the area proposed under public and semi-public use is 6% (the guidelines recommend 10-12%), though the area under industries is 14% (7-8% in the guidelines).The repercussion of this expansive growth in an ecologically sensitive area has degenerated the ecosystem and caused depletion of resources, specifically groundwater. An assessment of the open space requirement with the vegetation cover and run-off estimate in mind needs to be done to plan for open spaces that can serve as recharge areas.The fact that Gurgaon lies in seismic zone IV and has several fault lines passing beneath it also makes it highly disaster prone. However, no micro-zonation based on risk analysis has been done for the city, neither has this concern been integrated in the master plan.Though many cities in India may have tried to achieve the growth trajectory of Gurgaon, present conditions prove the city is on an unsustainable path with no vision. What is its vision? Is it only to attract investment? Is it to be an international city? Or to become a sustainable, livable and inclusive city? Many Indian cities are working towards achieving inclusive development and growth, but Gurgaon epitomises exclusion. A sustainable growth trajectory requires a planning framework where stakeholders share responsibility.(The writer is School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi)

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