New Delhi: The Delhi High on Wednesday slammed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for unhygienic conditions in the national capital, observing that it was running a "Ganda Bharat Abhiyan".
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul directed MCD to file a status report in this regard and posted the matter for next hearing on November 12.
"Maintaining cleanliness and generating civic awareness is the primary responsibility of MCD. The Prime Minister is running "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" (Clean India Campaign) and MCD is running "Ganda Bharat Abhiyan" (Dirty India Campaign). It is a disgrace.
"You have to clean Delhi, why are you not doing it. Dirt is lying all over as cleaning work is not being carried out in the MCD area. MCD shall file status report showing how many safai karamcharis it has employed in each of the corporations and where they are posted.
The high court's observation came after the petitioner NGO Nyaya Bhoomi submitted certain photographs showing garbage littered in different corporations of capital.
The high court had on September 10 restored its earlier order to have the streets, public premises, drains and parks cleaned on a daily basis, including on Sundays and public holidays, in the national capital.
The NGO had filed the restoration plea before the court alleging that government agencies have failed to improve the condition in the city despite the apex court's observation in 1996 that the "historical city of Delhi, the capital of India, is one of the most polluted cities in the world".
The court had in its order said that the streets, parks, public premises and drains shall be surface cleaned on a daily basis including on Sundays and public holidays.
Any sweeper not found present on his beat of duty can be awarded jail term up to 30 days by the Municipal Magistrates under Section 387 of the MCD Act.
86-year-old Sharan in his plea had pointed out the poor state of public toilets, infrastructure and facilities in health and educational institutions.
Highlighting the apex court's observations, the petition had said "it issued 14 directions to the MCD and the NDMC to improve the condition of the city and to maintain hygiene".
