Unclean image: Of the mechanised road sweeping targets in Delhi, just 38% have been reached so far
NEW DELHI: Only 38.37% of the 7,964.69 km of roads in the city are mechanically cleaned each day, despite being designated for this purpose.
goal for road sweeping
The environment department, which compiled the data of all road-owning agencies for February 2024, stated on Wednesday at the 12th meeting of the subcommittee on safeguarding and enforcement by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the national capital region and surrounding areas that, on average, only 3,055.7 km of road length is swept mechanically each day.
The CAQM has instructed agencies to intensify water spraying and mechanised road sweeping (1 machine every 40 km) in order to close the gap. Delhi need 115 more mechanised sweeping machines, of which 75% must be purchased by December of current year and all 100% by December of 2026.
To reduce dust pollution, officials have suggested automating the cleaning of certain highways. Following the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), roadside water spraying and mechanical cleaning will be required.
Based on information gathered by the environment department, Delhi need to have 200 mechanised road sweeping units, with one unit required for every 40 km. But the city has eighty-five of these devices.
The maximum length of the 7,964.69 km/day specified sweeping length is within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
In February, MCD mechanically swept 2,000 km/day as opposed to the 6,731 km/day that was required.
In Delhi, 116.2 MT of dust are typically collected each day, according to an official. At Okhla, Bhalaswa, Ghazipur, Shastri Park, Begumpur, and Burari, the gathered dust is disposed of.
To prevent dust from flying, 353 water sprinklers, including water tankers, have been installed. The capacity of a water sprinkler is between 1,000 and 9,000 litres.
48 government buildings already have anti-smog guns installed, but the agencies have identified 56 more that need to have this equipment installed. Fifty private structures have also been equipped with anti-smog weapons. “The environment department has proposed funding of Rs 40.84 crore in 2023–24 to PWD for mobile anti-smog guns. All government departments have been directed to identify more high rises for installing anti-smog guns,” an official said.
Under the guidance of CAQM, 12 road-owning agencies and stakeholder departments formed the dust control and management cell. The cell has been keeping an eye on the best use of road sweeping equipment, the methodical removal of dust, water sprinkling, turning unpaved roadsides into paved ones, making centre verges greener, and placing anti-smog guns at hotspots. CAQM keeps an eye on the development,” one official said.
