BJP-run MCDs failed Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Satyendar Jain

Blaming Delhi's Municipal cCorporations for the poor sanitation conditions in the city, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said the BJP-run civic bodies have "miserably failed" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Jain said the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) do nothing "except harassing people" and "making money" through corruption.

"The three MCDs, which are controlled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, have miserably failed Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and have shown a mirror to the BJP, apart from severely hurting the image of the nation," he said.

The minister's remarks come after his meeting with Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday regarding cleanliness here following the rising cases of chikungunya, dengue and malaria.

"The sanitation condition of Delhi is very bad and Delhi is burdened with garbage. Both LG and I are worried about the state of affairs," Jain said after the meeting.

At the meeting, Jung stressed on the need to synergise efforts of the health department, municipal corporations and other government departments to help tide over the current situation.

In order to make the city clean, there cannot be any complacency in the government machinery or the local bodies, he said.

Jung directed the MCDs to take all necessary steps to check dengue, chikungunya and malaria and utilise the funds released to them for taking preventive measures to keep a check over these diseases.

He also asked Deputy Commissioners and the MCDs to ensure adequate anti-mosquito fogging in schools and areas under their jurisdiction.

"District Magistrates may advise cinema halls under their jurisdiction to run audio-visual clips in cinema halls for prevention of dengue and chikungunya. Mock drills may be conducted in shopping malls and plazas to keep the city clean for prevention of vector borne diseases," Jung ordered.

He also asked the sub-divisional magistrates to conduct surprise inspection of localities, hospitals and government buildings to check cleanliness and to ensure measures are taken to prevent vector-borne diseases.

Taking a dig at the BJP-run MCDs, Jain said they are responsible for poor sanitation conditions in the city.

"Have MCDs done any work except making money? They just take bribes and do nothing else. If you make a list of things done by the MCDs, you will realise that they only harass people and make money from them," he said.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain, Municipal commissioners of all three MCDs as well as the New Delhi Municipal Council chairman.

Last week, the Aam Aadmi Party had launched "Spot the Kachra (garbage)" social media campaign to put pressure on the MCDs on the sanitation issue.

--IANS

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