Delhi to launch massive cleanliness drive

The Delhi government will kick off a three-week massive cleanliness drive Oct 2 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Swach Bharat Abhiyan.

Building new toilets, especially for women, and repair and maintenance of existing ones will be the focus of the drive in the capital, said a Delhi government official.

Chairing a meeting on the preparation of the drive Tuesday, Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung urged people of Delhi to participate in the drive - a part of the Swach Bharat Abhiyan.

The Abhiyan aims at providing toilets in every household in the country by 2019.

Besides cleaning public places and government premises, the drive will also cover industrial areas.

Debris and garbage, estimated to be more than 600 trucks, will be removed.

People found littering would be prosecuted, while vehicles parked illegally on footpaths and roads would be impounded, the official said.

Jung also asked various government departments - including health, tourism and education - to keep hospitals, schools and tourists spots clean.