‘Mega cleanliness drive’ evolved into public movement, says CM
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) 20-day ‘mega cleanliness drive’ has evolved into a public movement, with visible transformation across the Capital’s streets, drains and markets.
The zone-wise progress report, released by the MCD, revealed significant strides made across all 12 municipal zones, with active participation from citizens and sanitation workers alike.
Speaking at a press briefing, CM Gupta said: “This is not just a campaign, it is a people’s movement. A clean, healthy and beautiful Delhi is key to building a Viksit Delhi.”
She lauded the campaign’s momentum and credited the widespread public support and consistent participation of sanitation workers — over 33,000 daily — for the success of the drive.
According to the MCD report, over 3,500 kms of roads were cleaned, with the Rohini Zone topping the list, followed by Najafgarh and Karol Bagh. More than 11,000 challans were issued for violations, and 186.5 kms of encroached roads were cleared. In addition, nearly 20,000 metric tonnes of silt were removed from MCD-maintained drains. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department removed over 13.7 lakh metric tonnes of silt from 27 drains. CM Gupta directed that the remaining work be completed by May 31.
The drive also targeted night-time cleanliness in commercial areas. A total of 418 major markets were cleaned at night and 4,139 dark spots were identified and illuminated. Street lighting infrastructure was significantly improved, with 4,140 lights repaired and 285 new ones installed.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of well-lit public spaces for the safety of women, children and senior citizens. As many as 37,628 illegal posters and 8,399 banners were removed from public places. Additionally, 3,917 hoardings were removed and 30 public walls were beautified with artwork promoting cleanliness, culture and civic awareness.
CM Gupta highlighted the active role of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), with 283 RWAs participating in interactive sessions to discuss local issues and solutions for maintaining cleanliness. She also noted that several stray animals were shifted to gaushalas and stray dogs vaccinated. Unauthorised dairies were sealed in Najafgarh and Keshav Puram.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) simultaneously launched its mega sanitation drive, covering 14 circles under its jurisdiction. The campaign focused on cleanliness, encroachment removal, repair of damaged roads and community awareness. With an emphasis on managing construction and demolition waste — estimated at 500-700 metric tonnes daily — the NDMC enforced rules through CCTV monitoring and ground-level inspections.
Chief Minister Gupta concluded by reaffirming that the mega cleanliness drive would not end here. “This is not a one-time effort but a continuous process. Our goal is to build a robust system that ensures every street, every colony and every market in Delhi stays clean, safe and pollution-free.”
Delhi