Civic bodies force eateries in Dwarka markets to take stock of sanitation

Civic authorities, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the Delhi Jal Board, have come together to take action against restaurants in markets across Dwarka that flout NGT sanitation norms at will.

Today, officials of all the three civic bodies carried out a joint inspection in the markets of Sectors 6 and 10 in the presence of Kamaljeet Sehrawat, the leader of the house, SDMC.

Talking to City Spidey, Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, “Today, we did a round of the markets to check for sanitation standards followed by these local eateries and also the issue of encroachment. From tomorrow onwards, a detailed list of the eateries would be made. We’ll see whether or not they are following the directives of the NGT, which mandates the setting up of a small effluent treatment unit at the time of the granting of the license. These units take away the grime from the waste, reducing chances of drains choking up. The SDMC would issue a notice, and give two weeks to those who do not have effluent treatment units or sewer treatment units. Stern action will follow after a grace period of 15 days.”

During the inspection it was found that the restaurants and the DDA pocket behind the market had connected their drains to the main sewer lines under the jurisdiction of Delhi Jal Board, causing an overflow. It was also discovered that the restaurants and eateries have been throwing out kitchen waste in the drains, connected to the main DJB sewer. This is one of the major reasons why sewer lines choke up.

Sehrawat asked SDMC officials from the engineering department to disconnect the individual drains from the main sewer system of the DJB. According to Sehrawat, from tomorrow, cleaning of drains and replacement of broken slabs and disconnection of drains from sewer system of DJB will start in the market areas.

Inspection of markets in other areas is on the cards as well — and soon.