Politicians turn a blind eye as area’s residents keep suffering.
New Delhi
Govindpuri, a heavily inhabited residential area in south Delhi, has literally turned into a garbage dump, reflecting on the Aam Admi Party’s alleged poor management of garbage in the city. However, according to MLA Atishi Singh, waste management comes under the corporation councillor, i.e., MCD; here, the MCD councillor is Chander Prakash, as per Singh.
Govindpuri is in the neighbourhood of prominent residential neighbourhoods like Kalkaji, Chittaranjan Park, and Greater Kailash. Govindpuri is near the industrial district of Okhla and the commercial area of Nehru Place, but despite being a part of such a locality, the south-east part of Delhi has turned into a dumping yard.
“It is difficult to sleep because of the smell,” said Rajesh, a local. “You have to close the doors, but even then, there is no respite,” he added. As per the twelfth Schedule of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, solid waste management is one of the basic essential services provided by municipal authorities in the country to keep urban areas clean. However, it is among the most poorly rendered services where the systems applied are unscientific, outdated, and inefficient.
It is estimated that the amount of solid waste generated per capita in India is 100g (in small towns) and 500g (in urban clusters). Globalisation and the increase in purchasing power have further compounded the issue of waste management.
But has anything changed so far? Well, not really, said two sisters, Rekha, 60, and Sulochna, 65, who have lived in the area for 40 years, saying that “we have been living here for 40 years and the government comes and goes, but the situation remains the same. It is a hub of disease; in this area, there are always people suffering from some diseases.”
23-year-old Roshni said: “People from the lane don’t have any garbage management, so they walk to the road and throw it over there as there are no dust-bins or anything where the garbage can be thrown into. The overpopulated area of Govindpuri is suffering from garbage management.”
In response to allegations of poor garbage management in the area, MLA Atishi Singh said, “The work of cleanliness comes under the corporation councillor, i.e., MCD; here, the councillor of MCD is Chander Prakash.”
The Sunday Guardian tried contacting MCD councillor Chander Prakash for his reaction, but he refused to give any statement. Local politicians too did not respond on the issue.