Amid an increasing level of air pollution in the national Capital, Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday chaired a review meeting with senior officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). During the meeting, the MCD officials informed that about 14,000 metric tonnes of waste is collected daily in Delhi.
The minister directed officials to expedite waste segregation at the source, emphasising that effective segregation is crucial for proper waste management. He asked that the modern machinery procured by MCD for cleanliness and pollution control should be used efficiently and should show visible results in improving the city’s sanitation standards.
A detailed discussion with officials regarding the operation of 28 smoke guns and 167 sprinklers currently being used across Delhi to control dust and pollution also took place. The officials were asked that all such machines must function properly and, if necessary, employees should work in double shifts to ensure reduced pollution levels. He also gave directions to ensure that all 52 mechanical road sweeping machines function effectively.
Sood instructed officials to consider redesigning the routes of these machines to enhance their operational efficiency and reduce pollution levels.
Referring to the three fire incidents reported last year at the Ghazipur landfill site, he instructed that strict measures be taken to prevent recurrence and ensure that the fire-fighting equipment deployed at landfill sites is used effectively.
MCD officials briefed the minister about various preventive measures adopted at the Bhalswa, Ghazipur, and Okhla landfill sites to prevent fire incidents. It was informed that, except during the monsoon, 20,000–25,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of bio-mining is being carried out, with a record 30,000 TPD achieved between 25–29 September and 17–18 October this year. Designated areas have been earmarked for the disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) at Bhalswa and Ghazipur, while no new waste is being dumped at the Okhla landfill. These measures have significantly reduced landfill fire incidents in recent years.
The Minister announced that he will review the progress of work at the landfill sites — visiting Ghazipur on Monday and Bhalswa on Thursday. He also directed MCD officials to install or repair GPS systems in all cleanliness and pollution control machines to ensure real-time monitoring of their deployment and performance.
He also interacted with representatives of the International Solar Alliance to discuss measures for reducing vehicular pollution in Delhi.
He stated that the Delhi Government is working on multiple fronts to tackle both pollution and waste management challenges. “Our goal is to make Delhi not only clean but also green and sustainable. Fire incidents at dump sites and open waste burning are now being handled through scientific methods. All departments must ensure accountability at every level,” he added.
