The Delhi High Court has told civic agencies to the city in 2 weeks
Delhi High Court has given civic authorities two weeks to clean up the city, asking why they were not interested in keeping the national capital clean as all roads and public areas were "infested with rubble and dust".
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar said the dust and 'malba' (construction material wastes) infesting all the roads, pavements and public areas was not only resulting in air pollution but was also "causing diseases we had never heard of earlier like Chikungunya".
"It has become impossible. Even Lutyens' Delhi is not free from rubble. Why don't you want to keep Delhi clean," it said and directed the three corporations, Public Works Department, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Cantonment Board and Delhi Development Authority to carry out a drive in two weeks to clean up the city.
"Clean up Delhi. Do your job," the court said.
It also directed the authorities that drains and sewer lines be cleaned mechanically and dustbins for bio-degradable and non-degradable waste be put up at all public places, roads and parks so that people do not litter.
It asked the officials to file a status report indicating the amount of rubble removed, with photos, and the number of dustbins of both kinds that are put up.
It said that heads of the various departments would be held personally responsible for non-compliance of its orders.
The court was hearing a PIL by Col (Retd) BB Sharan who has sought direction for maintaining cleanliness in Delhi. It listed the matter for hearing on December 7.