We have drawn up an action plan to patch up bad roads
SS Yadav, East Delhi Municipal Corporation commissioner, answers some questions about problems in east Delhi.
Many plotted colonies of east Delhi complain about poor garbage collection. Also, back lanes are not being cleaned regularly.
We are doing our best. Since trifurcation, we have increased the capacity of lifting garbage from 1,400 million tonne (MT) to 2,000 MT. We have increased the number of trucks ferrying garbage and will add more. Every garbage station is cleared at least once a day. We will also improve the way the work of the sanitation workers is being monitored.
Roads in many of these colonies are in poor condition. Most have potholes and almost all get water-logged during rain. What are you planning to do about it?
Most of the 60-feet-wide roads have been transferred to the PWD. But I agree that the overall condition of the roads during rains was poor. Work usually starts soon after rains; this time it will start by October 15. We have also drawn an action plan for patching up potholes and to relay the longer stretches of bad roads.
Many residents have converted the stilt parking area, mandatory as per byelaws, for other uses and park cars on the roads. Why can't the civic agency take any action?
If somebody is violating building byelaws, we can always take action. But shortage of manpower prevents any suo moto action on our part. Somebody needs to lodge a complaint, be it an individual, police or the RWA.
What are your plans for the overall development of the area?
Apart from development of roads, there is a comprehensive sanitation project in the pipeline. We are getting MPLAD funds for increasing the number of garbage bins and trucks. We are also working with the environment department for conducting stakeholder consultations for solid waste management, which will include increasing the number of transfer stations where garbage can be taken after clearing dumpyards.
