Planned as the industrial hub of the city, Manesar has rapidly added, not just manufacturing units for the automobile sector, but also highrises and colonies to support its growing population.

According to a district administration official, there are an estimated 5.5 lakh residents in the town, which is also the workplace of lakhs of others.

But the town's infrastructure and civic amenities have not kept pace, residents allege.

With Manesar going to vote for the first time to elect councillors of its own municipal corporation (created only in 2020), residents hope an MCM House will usher in progress.

The town is home to 31 villages, 65 residential societies and 2,000 industrial units in IMT.

For villagers, access to drinking water is a key demand. Groundwater levels have drastically fallen as the city has grown, leaving residents with little access to potable water, especially in Kasan and Khoh villages.

"Water scarcity is our biggest problem. We rely on tankers for water, but it's not enough. Our children and elderly are suffering, and we need help before things get worse. In summer, the situation gets worse. People also have to pay for these tankers from their own pockets. Is it not the responsibility of the authorities," asked Rajesh Kumar, who lives in Kasan.

A water treatment plant with 100 MLD capacity was planned to be built over 50 acres of land in Kasan to supply canal water across Manesar, but the project – announced in May 2022 – has been held up due to permissions. Kasan falls under ‘gair mumkin pahar (non-cultivable hill), which requires environmental clearances as the region is protected by the Aravali Notification of 1992. The project, if it goes ahead, would help meet the water requirements of Khoh, Kasan, Sehrawan, Nainwal, Fazilwas and Kukrola villages. In the absence of canals, residents in these areas are dependent on tubewells and tankers.

Those living in societies across Manesar complain of poor urban infrastructure, from roads, sewer lines to waste management.

According to the district's estimation, around 26,000 of Manesar's 96,000 eligible voters live in societies. "Technically, GMDA has drawn a pipeline for treated water, which should be reused for irrigation. But there is no direct connectivity to the societies. These apartment complexes have also been struggling with waste segregation and damaged roads. There are potholes in every sector," said Praveen Malik, president of Rising Homes RWA. Malik is contesting the civic polls from his ward as an Independent candidate

Others alleged the town doesn't have a govt-run hospital. Any resident who can't afford private healthcare has to travel at least 15km to the Civil Hospital in Sector 10 of Gurgaon for proper treatment.

The industrial sectors are crumbling too. "The situation of Manesar's industrial area is even worse. It needs immediate attention. There is nothing that the municipal corporation has done," an industrialist said.

Rahul Ahuja, who often travels through the industrial area, added: "No proper roads, no safety, no garbage collection and encroachments everywhere. This is what we are getting after paying timely taxes. The authorities charge hefty taxes, but in return, we get nothing."

Asked about the complaints, an MCM official said on Sunday, "We have been working on civic issues and solving them."