New Delhi: Under the direction of chief minister Rekha Gupta, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) released a zone-wise progress report on its 20-day ‘cleanliness drive‘, conducted across all 12 zones. The initiative, part of the larger Swachh Delhi campaign, focused on cleaning, encroachment removal and issuance of challans, and was met with strong public support.The campaign saw 3,500 kilometres of roads cleaned, with Rohini Zone leading the effort, followed by Najafgarh, Karol Bagh, and south zone. Authorities issued 11,131 challans and seized 5,932 illegal materials, clearing 186.5 km of encroached roads. Nearly 50,000 illegal posters, banners, and hoardings were also removed.To address monsoon-related waterlogging, MCD removed 19,892 metric tons of silt from local drains. Additionally, the Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) department cleared 1,372,276 metric tons of silt from 27 major drains, with a deadline to complete remaining work by May 31, 2025. CM Gupta emphasised that silt disposal must be done in an environmentally sustainable manner.Safety improvements were also made, including repairs to 4,140 streetlights and the installation of 285 new ones. On average, 33,809 sanitation workers participated in the drive daily. Night-time cleaning was carried out in 418 major markets, and 283 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) were engaged to promote community participation.Efforts to manage stray animals included relocation to gaushalas, dog vaccinations, and the sealing of unauthorized dairies. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) also ran a parallel campaign in its 14 circles, focusing on construction and demolition (C&D) waste, encroachments, and civic sanitation.
