New Delhi: Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today asked the Delhi government and the municipal bodies to step up efforts to improve sanitation condition in the capital city.
Seeking systemic efforts to make substantial difference to sanitation in the city, Naidu urged the municipal commissioners to ensure proper deployment and monitoring of 65,000 safai workers stating the output is not commensurate with the number.
According to the Swachh Mission data, there were 11,117 applications for construction of individual household toilets in Delhi but not a single has so far been sanctioned or completed yet.
In a two-hour long review meeting of performance under Swachh Bharat Mission in Delhi, Naidu told the top brass of Delhi Administration that the public perception about cleanliness in the national capital is still adverse and needs to be changed at the earliest.
Chief Secretary and Secretaries of various departments of Delhi government, Commissioners of four municipal bodies, CEO of Delhi Cantonment, Vice-chairman of DDA, CMD of DMRC, senior officials from railways, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Police and CPWD attended the review meeting.
Taking note of Delhi’s performance under Swachh Bharat Mission, Naidu has stated that toilet construction is still to begin in five UTs including Delhi.
Concerned officials informed Naidu that due to non-availability of land in unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters, municipal bodies are focusing on construction of community and public toilets instead of constructing individual household toilets.
Delhi being the capital city, the progress under mission should have been more, Naidu has said in a press conference before the review meeting.
“Sanitation is a state subject and Delhi has a different government. But it is not an issue of any party or government,” Naidu said.
He also asked Delhi to focus more on sanitation. “There should have been accountability for implementation of Swachh initiatives,” he added.
In the review meeting, Naidu suggested to the Chief Secretary to set up a Committee to survey such areas for availability of land for proceeding further in the matter.
Chief Secretary assured Naidu that action for acquiring land suggested by DDA for the purpose of landfills will be expedited.
Minister also suggested to the Chief Secretary to examine the Japanese model of burning municipal solid waste without environmental consequences in view of limited availability of land for dumping such waste.
On the suggestion of Naidu, DMRC and NDMC agreed to consider setting up a Waste to Energy Plant.
The Minister asked DDA to examine entrusting maintenance of major parks to Resident Welfare Associations as guardians.