By: Ravi Nitesh | Published: https://countercurrents.org/2025/09/urban-waste-management-domestic-sector-in-delhi-a-call-for-collective-responsibility-and-five-key-areas-to-focus/
Recently,
due to rain, waterlogging was a common sight in many parts of Delhi-NCR. Amidst
this, a cleanliness drive by some foreign nationals in Gurgaon, who gathered
garbage from around the roads, became a subject of public curiosity.
The
proper management and disposal of garbage are a major challenge for almost all
urban economies worldwide. The continuous burden on cities, the influx of
people seeking a better life, the difficulties of urban housing, and the impact
of physical resources for development are all factors that make waste
management in cities even more difficult. All these factors are human-induced,
and the best solution to this problem can only be found through human efforts.
Delhi
is not untouched by this problem. As the national capital, this issue can be
seen on all the roads and in all the areas of the entire National Capital
Region. Instead of leaving the problem as it is at the government level, a
meaningful initiative in this direction also offers hope. One such initiative
was the "Delhi ko Koode se Azaadi" (Freedom for Delhi from Garbage)
campaign. This month-long campaign, which was started with great fanfare on
August 1st, is a meaningful effort to raise awareness towards the goal of
transforming Delhi into a clean, green, and garbage-free metropolis by the end
of August. The recent attempt by the Chief Minister to clear Delhi's mountains
of garbage within a year is another ambitious initiative, yet the fundamental
question remains: Can a centralized campaign, no matter how well-intentioned,
truly free Delhi from its persistent garbage problem?
In
many countries outside of India, the cleanliness of public places and roads
impresses tourists. There are various reasons for this, but it is noteworthy
that citizens themselves are very sensitive to it, and for them, cleanliness is
not a campaign but a part of their normal lifestyle. Littering in public places
there is met with scorn, whereas on the roads of Delhi, you can easily find
educated people in big cars throwing food packets, paan, and tobacco.
The
ground reality in Delhi presents a picture where overflowing dhalaos (garbage
collection centers), inadequate manpower for door-to-door garbage collection,
and a lack of modern waste disposal vehicles are persistent problems that
create difficulties. Sewer cleaning still has not eliminated safety hazards.
Even on the city's main roads, for example, near Dabri and Pankha Road, you can
always find garbage, foul smells, and animals in the open for almost a
kilometer.
The
city generates an estimated 13,000 tons of garbage daily, but a significant
portion, approximately 3,800 tons, remains untreated, leading to the accumulation
of huge waste piles in landfills like Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla. These
massive garbage dumps are not just an eyesore; they are environmental time
bombs that emit powerful greenhouse gases, contaminate groundwater with toxic
leachate, and often catch fire, worsening Delhi's already critical air quality.
To
truly gain freedom from garbage is a slow, long-term but permanent task that
should be worked upon in five key areas. First:
Focus on people's behavior and sensitivity so that they produce minimal
waste, and ensure that every household has a proper and accessible place for
garbage. Second: The modernization
of dhalaos in different areas and the deployment of human resources for their
maintenance, cleaning of the dhalaos and their surroundings, so that people can
go there to deposit garbage, instead of avoiding the area due to the filth and
smell. Third: More dustbins in
public places and their regular management, clean and more public urinals and
toilets; strict prohibition of harmful polythene, and a comprehensive effort
for the stray animals in the city. Fourth:
Coordination and commitment between government bodies and citizen groups,
modernization of waste management with technology, modern machines, better
workforce, and safety provisions. The disposal and transportation of garbage
should be done at night. Fifth:
Regular integrated monitoring of all these efforts and a review within a fixed
period to make necessary improvements.
If
these five groups, which bring all stakeholders from the source of waste
production to its disposal onto a single platform, and integrated efforts can
be made regarding general behavior, technology, rules and regulations, law,
etc., then a positive change in the situation can definitely be seen.
By:
Ravi
Nitesh
(Ravi Nitesh is a youth
activist and founder of Mission Bhartiyam. He can be reached at
mail@ravinitesh.com)
