New Delhi: A month-long special sanitation drive undertaken by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has resulted in the removal of over 1.52 lakh metric tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from across the Capital, officials said on Wednesday.
The drive, conducted between March 6 and March 31, focused on clearing debris from roads, drains, lanes and public spaces, with the aim of improving urban cleanliness and ensuring smoother civic infrastructure. Authorities said sanitation teams across all MCD zones were mobilised in a coordinated manner, with additional manpower and machinery deployed to intensify operations.
Each zone was supported with nearly 50 extra sanitation workers, while heavy equipment such as backhoe loaders, highway machines and specialised vehicles were used to handle large accumulations of debris. Smaller and scattered waste was also cleared by ward-level teams using auto tippers and other civic resources.
According to officials, around 79,406 metric tonnes of waste was lifted by the MCD, while the remaining 72,737 metric tonnes was cleared with support from other departments. The waste was transported to designated processing plants at Rani Khera, Shastri Park, Burari and Bakkarwala for scientific disposal.
The civic body said that approximately 7,200 to 7,500 truckloads of debris were removed from nearly 1,600 to 1,700 locations, supported by a network of about 125 collection centres across 250 wards.
Officials noted that the drive led to a significant increase in daily waste lifting, rising to about 6,100 metric tonnes compared to around 3,500 metric tonnes earlier, marking an increase of nearly 80–90 per cent.
To strengthen long-term waste management, MCD has also introduced the ‘Delhi Malba App’, enabling residents to request debris removal and report illegal dumping, as part of efforts to ensure cleaner and more sustainable urban spaces.