Delhi: NDMC V-C Kuljeet Singh Chahal joins cleanliness drive at Jantar Mantar protest site
New Delhi, July 26
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission and with the objective of restoring normal public life, New Delhi Municipal Council Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal joined the cleaning and restoration exercise at the Jantar Mantar here that involved removal of 60 metric tonnes of waste from the protest site, an official said on Sunday.
The Vice Chairperson of NDMC remained at the vacated protest site throughout Saturday night, personally supervising the cleanliness, waste removal, repair and restoration works.
He directed the government officers to complete all works promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards.
Kuljeet Singh Chahal said, "Immediately after the protest concluded, all NDMC teams swung into action. Intensive cleaning, washing and restoration works were undertaken on a war footing at Jantar Mantar, Tolstoy Road, Sansad Marg, Jai Singh Road, Janpath and the surrounding areas of Connaught Place."
"Our officers and employees worked continuously throughout the night and during the day to ensure that the public faced no inconvenience and that normalcy was restored at the earliest," he added.
After the operation was completed, Chahal revisited Jantar Mantar and the surrounding areas in the afternoon on Sunday to review the completed works and ensure that the entire area was clean, safe, well-maintained and fully ready for public use.
He said that the operation was carried out jointly by the Health and Sanitation, Civil Engineering and Horticulture Departments.
From Saturday night till Sunday afternoon, more than 500 officers and employees participated in the drive, undertaking cleaning, washing, repair and restoration of roads, footpaths, central verges, green belts, walls and other public spaces, a statement said.
Chahal clarified that NDMC teams became operational immediately after the protest concluded, and the entire protest site had already been cleaned well before any subsequent symbolic cleaning activity took place.
During the inspection, the NDMC Vice Chairman reviewed the works carried out by the Civil Engineering Department.
Around 50 workers were deployed for the operation.
The department carried out intensive road and footpath cleaning using four jetting machines, removed slogans from public walls followed by repainting, repaired damaged kerbstones and restored footpaths.
Chahal also reviewed the functioning of the Health and Sanitation Department.
He was told that 75 sanitation workers were deployed throughout the night, while 35 additional workers joined the operation from the morning onwards.
As 60 metric tonnes of waste was removed during the overnight cleanliness drive, the operation was supported by eight auto-tippers, two heavy trucks, one JCB and three high-pressure jetting machines, he said.
Chahal also inspected the restoration works undertaken by the Horticulture Department.
The department restored green belts, central verges and landscaped areas to bring back the greenery and aesthetic appeal of the locality.
He appreciated the efforts of the sanitation workers and said that NDMC employees are the Council's greatest strength.
He interacted with the sanitation workers and field staff who worked throughout the night, praised their dedication and commitment, and encouraged them to continue serving the citizens with the same spirit and sincerity.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Appreciate the prompt cleaning effort by NDMC. But why should public money be spent on cleaning up after protestors? They should be made to bear the cost or at least deposit a refundable bond before getting permission. This is basic civic sense yaar.
Full credit to the sanitation workers who worked through the night! 500 employees including 75+ sanitation staff doing overnight duty is commendable. The VIP officers supervising is good but let's not forget the real heroes who did the actual cleaning. 👏
Good that they cleaned up, but why this was not done regularly? Jantar Mantar is a heritage site and a tourist attraction. It should have been maintained properly all along. This 'war footing' approach only happens when some VIP visits. Consistent maintenance would be better.
As a Delhiite, I'm relieved. That area was stinking for months. But why does it take so long for authorities to act? The protest ended, and within hours they removed 60 tonnes of waste. Shows they can work fast when they want to. Just need consistent pressure on bureaucracy!
Impressive coordination across departments - health, civil engineering and horticulture working together. 4 jetting machines, 8 auto-tippers, JCB, high-pressure jets... proper operation! This is how government machinery should function. Hope this becomes the new normal for all public spaces.
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