A PWD offical said even these three machines are not owned by them and have been hired
There are “only” three mechanised vacuum cleaning machines with the Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) to sweep the roads. These submissions were made in the High Court in the wake of the failure of the Delhi government to curtail the increasing air pollution in the Capital.
In an affidavit filed in the Delhi High court through its standing counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan, the AAP government informed the court that there are three vacuum cleaning machines which have been used to clean the roads of posh South Delhi.
“Three numbers mechanised sweeping machines have been deployed on various roads of the PWD in South Delhi only. The PWD is making efforts to increase the number of machines, by re-tendering for procurement on hiring basis the mechanized sweeping machines,” the government said in the affidavit filed on November 29.
The length of the PWD roads’ measures is 1,270 km and each machine can cover not more than five-six km of the road at a time. Sources said that the action would just end up cleaning 15 per cent of the roads while 85 per cent of the roads are yet to becovered.
However, when asked about the machines, an official in the PWD stated that they do not own the machines and the same have been hired or procured from a third party.
“We do not have a single vacuum cleaning machine to sweep the roads. The three machines have been hired. Also it is not our responsibility to procure the machines. It is the municipal bodies who are responsible to the get the machines. We are just entrusted with the construction and maintenance of the roads,” the official said on the condition of anonymity.
According to an IIT Kanpur report, a big contributor to Delhi’s air pollution is road dust that accounts for about 35 per cent of tiny particles known as PM 2.5 in the air, followed by vehicles.
The High Court has also noted that there should be appropriate cleaning and washing of roads so as to ensure that the dust settles down. In an order dated November 9, the court also directed water sprinkling on the roads to prevent dust contamination, which is the biggest reason for pollution in the city.
However, the suggestions have not been properly complied with major roads of the Capital remaining uncovered.
WHEN DUST MATTERS
- According to an IIT Kanpur report, road dust accounts for about 35 per cent of tiny particles known as PM 2.5 in the air, followed by vehicles.
- The length of the PWD roads’ measures is 1,270 km and each machine can cover not more than five-six km of the road at a time.
- In an order dated November 9, the court also directed water sprinkling on the roads to prevent dust contamination
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