Delhi to see more cleanups by residents

NEW DELHI - Days after they hit the streets with brooms and mops to clear the garbage in their south Delhi neighbourhood - one of the largest in the Indian capital, residents say the drive has made a difference.

Happy with the response to the drive in Vasant Kunj undertaken by residents along with the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD), the organisers hope to repeat Saturday’s experience in the rest of Delhi and in the same neighbourhood again within six months.

“We do have some places in mind to start with,” said Babindra Gambhir, the head of www.residentwelfare.com, a portal which connects Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) across the nation.

The initiative was organised by members of the portal, RWA Vasant Kunj, and the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) along the external roads of the area. The event saw people of all ages happily picking up garbage.

“We had some 700 people on the road that day. People of all ages contributed to the cause,” Gambhir told IANS. “After such a positive response from the residents, we might repeat it in Vasant Kunj again after six months.”

The collected waste consisted of everything from plastic bags, wrappers, kitchen waste, old tyres and other waste material. Saturday’s drive was preceded by a week of preparatory events.

“The total collected garbage for over a week was some 180 tonnes,” she said.

Residents hit the streets at 7 a.m. and carried on the cleaning for two hours.

Alka Relan, a housewife, said she felt a sense of satisfaction at having done something for society and that the drive would help spread awareness.

Two MCD councillors Rakesh Rajora and Bimla Chaudhary were present to give their support to this cause. “They also picked up garbage,” said Gambhir.

The children of the area also pitched in. “As a token of appreciation, we have decided to give certificates of participation in community work to the children,” she said.

Anupama Oberoi, a housewife, who took part along with her daughter, said: “Government bodies should do something about the debris left around after construction in public spaces because people use such spots as dumping grounds and this adds to the filth.”

She said after being part of this initiative her 12-year-old daughter knew first hand why littering was a bad habit.