Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered night-time cleaning in residential colonies and major markets so that the city looks clean during Diwali and other festivals. She said negligence in cleanliness at any level will not be tolerated.
The CM chaired high-level meeting at Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday. She directed concerned departments and agencies to fix cleanliness system at once, remove garbage dumps and ensure regular cleaning. The Municipal Corporation has been told to begin night cleaning in colonies, major markets and prominent market areas.
Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, Mayor Parvesh Wahi, other corporation representatives, Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar and senior officers of departments attended meet. The Chief Minister said complaints are coming in about heaps of garbage lying in some areas and delays in collection.
She said efforts are being made for cleanliness, but the expected results are not visible on the ground. Some zones have also reported negligence in garbage collection. There are demands to improve cleanliness in major markets and shopping areas. She told officers to take these complaints seriously and act immediately so that the improvement is clearly visible.
The Chief Minister asked the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner to speed up the cleanliness drive across Delhi in view of the coming festivals. Where more staff is needed, manpower should be made available at once. If required, new workers should be hired for the night cleaning drives.
She said cleaning colonies and major markets at night will help keep them clean when people move around during the day. She also said comprehensive improvements must be ensured before the festivals. The Chief Minister stressed that garbage must be collected on time after sweeping. Delays lead to dumps building up again, she said, so sweeping and collection must be better coordinated.
Garbage, construction debris and filth must be removed immediately from roads, intersections, flyovers, markets, residential areas and other public places. She also asked for regular cleaning drives and action on road dust, so that residents get a clean environment.
The Chief Minister told all senior officers to visit their areas personally, inspect cleanliness arrangements and fix shortcomings on the spot. She said holding meetings and preparing reports alone will not improve the system. Officers must go into the field and ensure that instructions are followed. Wherever deficiencies are found, solutions should be provided in coordination with the agencies concerned. She also called for better use of technology to strengthen monitoring and make results of work visible.
Sood told corporation officials to use new technology to make Delhi clean and free of garbage heaps. He warned action would be taken against those who show negligence.