A garbage collection point in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension. Representative picture.
The Delhi government in a cabinet meeting on Saturday formed a three-member committee to look into waste management in the city. But, the government’s move, which should have also inspired hope over sanitation in the city, seems to have failed at doing so.
When City Spidey spoke to a few residents, they were sceptic about the development. “Neither the Delhi government nor the MCD is taking the issue (sanitation) seriously. In fact they don’t want to work with each other. Problems cannot be solved until the authorities that are responsible work together,” said SK Tuteja, secretary of Kirti Apartments, a residential society in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension.
NP Radhakrishnan, president of Samachar Apartments, Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, said, “Delhi government formed the committee because, observing the government’s failure, the court (Supreme Court) had intervened. It’s just a tactic to appease the court. But will it bear any fruit? We’ll have to wait and watch.”
The three-member committee would be headed by Satyendra Jain, health minister, with Kapil Mishra, cultural minister, and Imran Hussain, environment minister, as other members.
According to Delhi government’s spokesperson, the committee would hold discussions with all stakeholders, including MCD commissioners and public representatives, and then submit a report to the cabinet by November 10.
Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Kejriwal-led government over garbage problems in the city and for blaming the civic authorities for the same. The court slammed the government for not accepting its advice to engage AAP MLAs in sanitation drives. The government previously had stated that keeping the city clean was solely the job of municipal corporations.
However, the court on Friday said, “MLAs also get salaries and are accountable to electors who voted them to office. Don’t say MLAs have no responsibility.”
"You have a lot of MLAs. What are they doing? Are they telling people about the problem and spreading awareness to keep wet and dry garbage separate? Your MLAs should at least sensitise people on the issue," the apex court had said.
Anil Pandey, president of federation of Vasundhra Enclave co-operative group housing societies, said that the quality of life in the city is deteriorating due to the stench coming from garbage dumped in residential colonies. “But instead of taking positive steps, the state government and civic bodies are engaged in a war of words."
