The Society for Urban Regeneration of Gurgaon (SURGE) launched late last year is headed by former foreign secretary J N Dixit. Its office-bearers include (Retired) Air Chief Marshal A K Sareen; Jyoti Sagar, a senior advocate, and HCL Infinte chief Saurav Adhikari.

The SURGE is, according to Mr Dixit, an apolitical voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It aims to address the larger and long-term issues that have a direct bearing on the sustainable development of Gurgaon and its environs.

The founders of the SURGE say that the need for the formation of such an agency has been felt now since the Haryana government has decided to develop Gurgaon as the state's cybre capital and the seat of its first deemed IT university or the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT).

On the occasion of the launch of SURGE, Mr Dixit, observed that the city of Gurgaon is today at a critical juncture in its growth and there is a real threat to this growth since it's neither balanced and nor sustainable.

The SURGE aims to identify long-term macro issues facing the city, invoke a sense of urgency among residents to address these issues and to pro-actively engage the Haryana government in finding solution.

The SURGE would, therefore, shortly draw up a draft plan-Gurgaon Vision-2020. This would naturally imply reactivation of the town's existing Master Development Plan and recast the same if required.

Air Chief Marshal (Retd) A K Sareen, vice-chairman of SURGE, is for drawing upon the expertise of SURGE members to support and collaborate with the government and the local community to achieve its objectives. The members of SURGE and the entire region have a serious and long-term stake in Gurgaon's development, with focus on civic infrastructure and environment, which is conducive to quality living, community development and growth of business and commerce in Gurgaon and its environs.

The founders of the SURGE have volunteered to contribute financially to implement the Gurgaon Vision-2020 Action Plan and offer free consultancy in chosen fields.

According to SURGE secretary Jyoti Sagar, ``The HCL Infinet, India Investment Centre, Inapex Ltd, Pepsi Foods, Eicher group and a few others have already endorsed the move to create a corpus fund.''

Former Union home secretary N N Vohra, former Union surface ministry secretary S Sundar, former chairman International Airport Authority of India Vijay Mathur, eminent journalist M J Akbar of The Asian Age include the 13-member governing body of SURGE. The short-term plan of SURGE is targeted at developing green plots, setting up power generation and distribution companies in private sector, developing local roads in line with the town's master plan and access arteries for convenient connectivity with the National Capital Region, managing and harvesting water resources, collecting and disposing solid waste, protecting environment, preventing decay and degradation of open spaces, and checking misuse of land and encroachments.