Govt releases Rs 500 crore for MCD to tackle sanitation, dust
The Delhi Government on Friday approved and released one-time financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The fund is released to tackle sanitation gaps and curb dust-related pollution.
The monetary disbursement is aimed at strengthening garbage management, clearing pending dues, and carrying out minor road repairs to reduce dust generation across the city.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the assistance marks a decisive step towards making Delhi clean, hygienic, and pollution-free. She also announced that the Government will provide regular annual financial support of Rs 300 crore to the MCD to ensure long-term strengthening of the city’s sanitation infrastructure.
The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting held at the Delhi Secretariat under the chairpersonship of the Chief Minister.
The meeting was attended by Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, Delhi Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh, Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma, Leader of the House Pravesh Wahi, Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, and other senior officials of the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation.
The Chief Minister said cleanliness remains the Government’s top priority and no compromise would be made in this regard.
She underlined that uncollected waste and damaged roads are major contributors to dust pollution and poor air quality in the Capital.
According to officials, a significant portion of the Rs 500 crore will be used to clear long-pending payments to agencies engaged in waste management services. This is expected to ensure uninterrupted garbage collection and transportation across all municipal zones. Funds will also be used to address the recurring financial deficit in day-to-day sanitation operations and to remove accumulated waste from areas where contractors are currently non-functional.
The assistance will also be utilised for minor road works, including filling potholes and carrying out patch repairs. Officials said these measures are critical to reducing road dust, which is a major source of particulate pollution in the city, especially during dry months.
The Chief Minister directed the MCD to ensure that the funds are spent strictly for the approved purposes and are not diverted to any other scheme. She instructed officials to adhere to all financial rules and procedures, with regular monitoring of expenditure.
Mandatory submission of utilisation certificates and progress reports was also stressed to ensure transparency and accountability.
Emphasising the link between sanitation and public health, the Chief Minister said that a clean city is essential to achieving the vision of a “Viksit Delhi”. She noted that strengthening garbage collection systems and improving road conditions would directly benefit citizens by reducing dust, improving air quality, and enhancing overall hygiene.
She further directed the Municipal Corporation to step up garbage collection mechanisms and make use of modern sanitation equipment. The Delhi Government, she said, is extending additional financial support for the procurement of advanced machines to speed up cleaning operations and improve efficiency.
The Chief Minister also instructed officials to expedite the setting up of new waste-to-energy plants and upgrade existing facilities. Stressing the importance of scientific waste management, she called for better utilisation of green waste and directed that modern waste-processing machines be installed in every assembly constituency.
She added that simplified systems for segregation and collection of wet and dry waste would be key to encouraging public participation in cleanliness drives and ensuring sustainable sanitation outcomes across the Capital.
