In a bid to ensure a cleaner and greener capital ahead of the upcoming festival season, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has launched an ambitious city-wide campaign aimed at tackling garbage and pollution. Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi and Leader of the House Mukesh Goyal announced the launch of the campaign on Tuesday. The initiative seeks to make all 250 wards across the city free of garbage and debris, offering citizens a cleaner and more beautiful environment as festivities approach.
Dr. Shelly Oberoi stated, “Delhi faces two major problems. The first is Municipal Solid Waste, that is, garbage, and the second is Construction and Demolition Waste, which is debris.” She noted that a common practice is that garbage bags are dumped anywhere, such as in street corners, beside parks, or back lanes. If there is a construction site where a building or property is being developed, debris is often dumped in some corner. “When we talk about C&D (Construction and Demolition) Waste, the biggest contributor to pollution is debris. Every year, Delhi faces the problem of pollution, and as a result, we see a significant increase in the Air Quality Index,” she added.
She added that in 2021, the Supreme Court issued an order directing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement dust control measures and create C&D sites. “Both the Delhi government and the municipal corporation have always taken important steps to reduce pollution each year,” she informed.
Last year, the municipal corporation established many Construction and Demolition sites, which were designated as JE Stores. These sites were covered with long blue sheets, and as a result, tons of debris that previously could be seen on roads, back lanes, or park corners was cleared. “The public also supported this effort, and with the help of our municipal staff, many tons of debris were sent to the designated sites,” the Mayor said.
Dr. Shelly Oberoi stated that a high-level meeting was recently held with officials in the municipal corporation, including the MCD Commissioner, Additional Commissioner (DEMS), and Additional Commissioner (Engineering). She said, “The municipal corporation is now ready. Its biggest responsibility is to improve waste management. During that meeting, it was decided that a special campaign and drive would be launched. Under this, the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners of all 12 zones of Delhi will inspect their designated zones and wards daily. Additionally, all 250 wards’ JE Maintenance (Junior Engineer for Works and Maintenance), sanitary guide, sanitary inspector, and ASI (Assistant Sanitary Inspector) will report daily on their designated wards and certify that their ward is free from both garbage and debris.”
“The municipal corporation has started this special campaign and drive. I also seek cooperation from the people of Delhi. Deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, JE Works Maintenance, and sanitary guides will fulfill their responsibilities and report daily to the deputy commissioner in a specified format. Now, it is also the citizens’ responsibility, as part of the community, to keep their area clean,” she added.
Appealing to the people of Delhi, the Mayor further said, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure the cleanliness of Delhi, especially during the upcoming festival season when pollution remains an issue. I urge the people of Delhi to understand their responsibility and cooperate with our staff. In the coming days, as JE Maintenance and sanitary guides, along with our DEMS officers, will be reporting daily on how much garbage and debris have been removed from their ward, they will ensure that their ward is free of garbage and debris. Contribute to fulfilling the promise made by Arvind Kejriwal to make Delhi clean and green.”
Mukesh Goyal also shared his thoughts on this special drive and campaign. He emphasized, “Certain steps are being taken by the municipal corporation to make Delhi free of garbage, debris, and pollution. The first step is assigning responsibility for garbage management to the sanitary inspector and junior engineer maintenance of each ward, who will submit daily reports. This will provide a clear picture of how much debris exists in their ward.”
He continued, “Furthermore, instructions have been given to properly manage construction materials like gravel or sand left on streets, which cause dust and pollution. We will not tolerate any laxity in this regard. With the cooperation of the people of Delhi, we will achieve a clean, beautiful, and pollution-free Delhi. This is our vision, and I am hopeful that with everyone’s support, we will accomplish this goal.”
