India, Nov. 3 -- In Gurugram, civic clean-up drives have become a performance art that begins with a flurry of press releases, photo ops and promises, and ends two days later in the same familiar chaos of dust, dumps and denial.

Every few weeks, senior officials descend from Panchkula in crisp shirts, folded sleeves and a convoy of SUVs to review Gurugram's "sanitation progress." There are loud announcements, brooms are distributed, and junior officers nod dutifully. For 24 hours, Gurugram hums with activity. Garbage trucks appear at odd hours, drains are hastily cleared, and roads are hosed down with water tankers. Social media floods with photos of officials inspecting sites, citizens applauding and captions promising transformation. ...