A special meeting of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was held today to discuss Delhi’s sanitation system and the ‘Delhi Ko Kude Se Azaadi’ campaign in detail. During the meeting, members of the Standing Committee shared sanitation-related issues, experiences and suggestions from their respective areas.
During the meeting, councillors primarily raised issues related to the shortage of sanitation workers in wards, inadequate resources required for sanitation work, shortage of auto-tippers, regular cleaning of dhalaos, the problem of garbage and cow dung on roads and public places due to stray and abandoned animals, garbage accumulation in vacant plots, and the need to ensure regular cleaning of small and narrow lanes.
Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma directed the officials to ensure that no negligence at any level in sanitation work would be tolerated. She directed that the responsibility of the concerned Deputy Commissioners and Sanitation Superintendents be fixed and that regular monitoring of sanitation arrangements be ensured in their respective areas.
Garbage Collection and Sanitation Arrangements to be Strengthened
It should be ensured in every ward that garbage from households, markets and public places is collected regularly and in a timely manner. Wherever complaints of recurring garbage accumulation are received, special monitoring should be undertaken and necessary action should be taken for a permanent solution.
Black Spots to be Identified and Permanently Resolved
A detailed list of all locations in Delhi where garbage repeatedly accumulates should be prepared. Cleaning a site only once should not be considered sufficient. Permanent local-level arrangements should be developed at these black spots to prevent garbage from accumulating again, along with regular monitoring.
Special Focus on Segregation of Wet and Dry Waste
The system of segregating wet and dry waste at source should be strengthened. RWAs, market associations and local organisations should be involved in the campaign. Extensive public awareness campaigns should also be conducted to educate people about waste segregation and proper disposal.
Strict Action Against Illegal Disposal of C&D Waste
Action should be taken as per rules against those dumping Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste on roads, vacant plots and public places. Areas where such problems are repeatedly reported should be kept under special surveillance, and challans should be issued wherever necessary.
Regular Cleaning of Dhalaos to be Ensured
Regular cleaning of all dhalaos and timely disposal of waste from these sites should be ensured. Concerned officials should conduct regular inspections and monitoring to prevent the accumulation of garbage and unhygienic conditions around dhalaos.
Public Participation to be Ensured in Every Ward
This campaign is not merely an MCD campaign. Local residents, market associations, RWAs and social organisations should be involved through councillors. People need to understand that not throwing garbage on roads or public places is as important a contribution towards a clean Delhi as collecting the garbage itself.
Monitoring of Sanitation and Grievance Redressal to be Strengthened
Sanitation-related complaints received from the public should not be kept pending. Timely action should be ensured after a complaint is received, and appropriate feedback regarding the action taken should also be provided to the complainant.
Regular Review of Campaign Progress
All zones and concerned departments should prepare progress reports for their respective areas. Regular reviews should be conducted to assess where sanitation has improved, where problems continue to persist and which areas require additional efforts.
Satya Sharma said that the success of the ‘Delhi Ko Kude Se Azaadi’ campaign would not be measured merely by removing garbage heaps. The real success would be when the same location does not become a garbage dumping point again.Therefore, the priority should not only be to conduct cleanliness drives but to develop an effective and sustainable waste management system that continues to function efficiently.
Chairperson Standing Committee directed all officials to take the suggestions and directions discussed during the meeting seriously and ensure effective action on the ground. She also urged all councillors to monitor the campaign in their respective areas and involve local residents to give it the character of a wider public participation campaign.
–The End
