In a major push for sanitation and civic upkeep, the Delhi Municipal Corporation has launched a citywide cleanliness and drain desilting drive aimed at eliminating waterlogging and garbage accumulation within 20 days.
The initiative was flagged off on Monday with active participation from both state and municipal authorities. Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh stated that the campaign is being undertaken with full coordination between the Central Government, the Delhi Government, and the Municipal Corporation. Emphasising improved synergy under unified political leadership, the Mayor asserted that all officers and councillors are actively contributing to this mega drive. “We are running this campaign on a war footing. All councillors have been directed to carry out a two-hour cleanliness campaign daily in their respective wards. Drains and sewers are being cleaned to ensure water does not accumulate during the rains,” Mayor Singh told ETV Bharat. He added that senior officials, including the Deputy Mayor, Commissioner, and zonal heads, would also participate in field inspections.
The drive aligns with the larger “Swachh Bharat Mission” spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In New Delhi, the campaign gained further momentum under NDMC’s “Mega Swachhta Abhiyan Shramdaan” initiative. NDMC Vice President Kuljit Singh Chahal led a volunteer effort at the Hanuman Mandir Complex in Connaught Place, involving staff from multiple departments including Health, Education, and Fire Services. “This is part of the ‘One hour of Shramdaan every day’ initiative. Everyone from officers to sanitation workers is contributing,” Chahal said. Similar drives were led across other parts of the city by NDMC Chairman Keshav Chandra at Safdar Hashmi Marg, and Council Members D.P. Singh and Sarita Tomar at Lodhi Colony and Moti Bagh respectively.
With the onset of monsoon, the city’s decades-old problem of waterlogging has returned to the spotlight. Authorities hope the rapid desilting and coordinated cleanliness efforts will offer some relief, while also improving sanitation and public hygiene across Delhi.
