New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of waste disposal at the Ghazipur landfill site and instructed the MCD on Wednesday to accelerate the process.
She said that machines used in the process would be increased at three landfill sites and ordered the civic body to work on a “war footing.” She also directed officials to ensure that no waste is dumped in drains.
MCD has three exhausted landfills — Okhla, Ghazipur, and Bhalswa — where over 160 lakh tonnes of legacy waste lie, and 3,000-3,500 tonnes of fresh waste continue to be dumped at the latter two landfills.
The decision was taken during a review meeting regarding the status of landfills at the Delhi secretariat. Officials from the MCD and the urban development department were present. Additionally, directives have also been issued for the expansion of waste-to-energy plants at Okhla and Tehkhand.
During the meeting, the chief minister issued directives to ensure 24×7 waste disposal at the three landfills. She said instructions had been given to start work by increasing the number of modern machines the sites and enhance their operational efficiency.
She also issued instructions to promptly start the construction of proposed waste-to-energy plants in Narela and Ghazipur.
Following the meeting, Gupta said: “Delhi’s landfills are not merely mounds of garbage, but rather testimonies of neglect and mismanagement. This is not merely an initiative by govt toward environmental conservation, but our responsibility towards future generations.” She added that “completely eliminating the garbage mountains from Delhi is our highest priority. The promise we made to the citizens of Delhi will be fulfilled under all circumstances. No negligence will be tolerated in this endeavour.”
Gupta said that during the meeting, an action plan was presented for expediting work. The waste disposal will now be done at twice the previous pace. The number of modern waste disposal machines at these three landfill sites will be increased. Machine efficiency and shifts will be enhanced to work toward 24×7 operations.
She said her govt was fully in action mode in the campaign to remove garbage mountains from Delhi. The chief minister has issued directives to expedite the removal of remaining garbage mountains from the Okhla, Ghazipur, and Bhalswa landfill sites.
MCD has also been directed to prepare a detailed plan for the beneficial use of all three landfill sites for the people of Delhi after the waste has been fully disposed of.
She also instructed MCD to conduct a three-month special cleanliness campaign throughout Delhi to improve sanitation systems, thereby making the capital clean and waste-free. “The citizens of Delhi don’t have to wait any longer. Delhi govt has launched a mission-mode operation against landfill sites. Our goal is not only to remove the existing waste mountains but to ensure that such a situation never arises again in the future.”