Capital’s dhobi ghats will see massive change

Electrical washers, driers and water treatment plants to be set up at all 54 spots. HT reports.

You can now look forward to quicker delivery of your laundry with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) kickstarting modernisation of its dhobi ghats across the city.

HT Image

Through the use of electrical washers and driers, clothes will be cleaned within a matter of two hours, making deliveries quicker, said Jagdish Mamgain, chairman of MCD works committee.

Delhi's 54 dhobi ghats in which about 5,000 families work will be modernised beginning with Lodhi Road dhobi ghat at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

The Lodhi road ghat, where about 100 families work, has already started witnessing construction activity. The ghat will have 50 units, each consisting of washers and driers.

MCD officials said a treatment plant to recycle 60% waste water will be installed at all the dhobi ghats. Rainwater harvesting, underground and overhead tanks for collection fresh water and a water heater will also be placed. To make them energy efficient, all the machines will be operated through solar energy.

"The provisions at the dhobi ghats will remove the need for a place to hang clothes to dry, will be safer for the washermen and through the waste water treatment, dirty water will not flow into the Yamuna," said Mamgain.

He added that a diesel generator set, fire-fighting equipment, LPG gas pipeline and gas cylinder with bhattis will be made available on the ghat. The people running the facility will be made responsible for the upkeep of the machines.

The MCD will also construct storerooms, toilets, urinals, bathrooms and canteen for overall benefit of the dhobis.