Ahead of festivals, MCDs gear up to keep city streets, markets clean

In view of the ongoing festive season, all three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) have announced to launch a massive cleanliness drive across the city. 

The Corporations, in order to achieve the target, have decided to work on both day and night hours by hiring additional sanitation staff on contract basis. They have also planned to install more street and high-mast lights in each ward of the city.

As per the plan, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is going to hire as many as 250 contractual staff to improve sanitation work and have been chalking out a plan for both day and night duties. Emphasis will be given on cleanliness of markets, parks, abandoned areas and dhalaos (garbage dumping sites) as the civic body has been reported of huge garbage pile-ups at such places. 

In addition to this, the concessionaire engaged in garbage/waste lifting and transportation has been ordered to increase the number of ferry of trucks carrying the material. The SDMC has also decided to add more auto-tippers and other resources to enhance door-to-door garbage collection and install dustbins.

“We had introduced a proposal in our last Standing Committee meeting and now we have decided to implement it accordingly. Initially, an amount of Rs 25 lakh will be allocated in each ward for this cause and if required, the allocation will be increased. We have also decided to install 50 to 100 new street/high-mast lights ahead of the festivals scheduled between October end and mid-November,” said Shailendra Singh Monti, Chairman of Standing Committee.

The Chairman said the plan of night work/sweeping has been introduced on the behest of the market associations and at least 150 markets across the South Delhi areas has been identified for this purpose. 

“The markets are open till late night during the festivals so the shopkeepers have been demanding that the markets should be cleaned late at night or early morning. 

The hired staff will be dedicated to clean the markets as per their convenience and make sure no garbage is scattered in the public places.

The two other civic bodies — North and East — have also informed to prepare a roster till October 31 for regular visits by senior officials, including Deputy Commissioners, to prominent markets and public places.