East Delhi launches sanitation drive to build ‘smart colonies’

EDMC has launched a series of measures to clean up select neighbourhoods in its jurisdiction under ‘Smart Colonies’ drive.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation has launched a series of measures to clean up select neighbourhoods in its jurisdiction under ‘Smart Colonies’ drive.

To begin with, sanitation officials are organising meetings with shopkeepers and vendors to clean up local markets and remove encroachments. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

The project was launched in Preet Vihar and Dilshad Garden in east Delhi.

Besides improving the sanitation services and instilling better civic sense among residents through awareness drives, the department will work to give a “perfect” look to these neighbourhoods. “The objective is to change the image of the colonies in east Delhi,” said a senior EDMC official.

To begin with, sanitation officials are organising meetings with shopkeepers and vendors to clean up local markets and remove encroachments.

“We have also distributed dustbins to vendors and shopkeepers so that they won’t dump their waste on roadsides. Those who break the rules are being fined,” said EDMC standing committee chairman, Jitender Chaudhary.

He said tippers pick up garbage from identified sites and roadsides at least twice a day.

Parks are being beautified by planting seasonal saplings and installing benches. “We are developing theme-based parks, depending on the availability of space in these areas,” said Chaudhary.

Other blocks are also following the model, he said.

According to the EDMC official, the initiative will help reduce the quantity of garbage send to the Ghazipur landfill.