New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday instructed the MCD to conduct a night-time cleaning drive in the prominent markets and residential colonies in the city in view of the festival season.

After chairing a meeting attended by Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, Mayor Parvesh Vahi, Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma and officers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Gupta issued a strict warning that negligence in cleanliness will not be tolerated.

The chief minister directed the departments and agencies concerned to immediately rectify the cleanliness system, remove garbage dumps and ensure regular cleaning.

She also directed the MCD to start night-time cleaning in residential colonies, major markets and prominent market areas so that cleanliness is visible in every part of the capital during the festival season, said a Delhi CMO statement.

The chief minister said in the meeting that complaints are being received regarding heaps of garbage lying around and delays in garbage collection in some areas of Delhi.

She expressed dissatisfaction over visible results of cleanliness efforts on the ground, emphasising improvements in major markets and shopping areas. Gupta instructed the officers to take these complaints seriously, initiate immediate action and ensure that the effect of improvement in cleanliness is clearly visible, the CMO said. The chief minister directed the mayor and municipal commissioner to accelerate cleanliness in view of festivals, saying necessary manpower be deployed and, if necessary, hirings could be done for night-time cleaning drives, it said. Cleaning residential colonies and major markets at night will help maintain cleanliness during daytime public movement. Comprehensive improvements in the cleanliness system must be ensured before the festivals, Gupta said.

She further instructed the MCD officers that garbage, construction debris and filth must be removed immediately from roads, intersections, flyovers, markets, residential areas and other public places.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.