New Delhi, 27 October (H.S.): The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has stepped up its preparations to combat pollution in the national capital, announcing plans to deploy 700 hopper pickers by December 31.

Satya Sharma, Chairperson of the MCD Standing Committee, said the civic body was intensifying efforts to tackle air pollution and smog through dust control, road cleaning, waste disposal and stricter action against activities contributing to pollution.

She said the MCD currently had 66 mechanical road sweeping machines, 167 water sprinklers and 28 anti-smog guns in operation. Locations for deploying these machines have been identified across all municipal zones.

Sharma said the corporation had set a target of rehabilitating and improving 1,202 kilometres of roads this year to reduce road dust. Between January and September, work on 745 kilometres of roads had been completed. From April to September, the MCD repaired 8,141 potholes and restored 17,132 square metres of road surface. A special drive had also resulted in the removal of 3,750 metric tonnes of accumulated silt.

According to Sharma, new machinery is being introduced to strengthen the city's cleaning and sanitation infrastructure. Work orders have been issued for 15 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mechanical road sweeping machines with a capacity of four cubic metres each, along with 55 electric mechanical road sweeping machines with a capacity of two cubic metres each. These vehicles are expected to be deployed in phases by November.

She added that the MCD aims to deploy 700 hopper pickers by December 31. The 12 water sprinklers and anti-smog guns purchased recently are also expected to be put into service shortly.

Sharma said the corporation had launched the ‘Shahri Malba’ app to facilitate the scientific disposal of construction and demolition waste. Delhi generates approximately 5,000 to 6,000 metric tonnes of such waste every day, she noted.

As part of its efforts to improve the city's green cover, the MCD also planted 134,029 trees and 274,465 shrubs within its jurisdiction between April and September.

Sharma said the corporation's priority was to reduce pollution by controlling dust and waste at their sources, ensuring regular cleaning and taking action against those violating prescribed rules. The measures are aimed at making pollution-control efforts more effective across the capital.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar