PNS | DEHRADUN
In a bid to enhance cleanliness in the city, the Municipal Corporation of Rishikesh (MCR) has launched a night sweeping initiative in key areas, including the main market, Sabji Mandi and adjoining streets. The programme aims to ensure garbage-free streets by addressing waste disposal issues left by shopkeepers and vendors after business hours, Rishikesh municipal commissioner Shailendra Negi said. He informed that the MCR has also issued strict guidelines, urging shopkeepers and business owners to maintain dustbins within their premises and hand over waste to the municipal corporation’s designated vehicles. Dumping garbage on streets in any direction will lead to penalties and legal action, as per the commissioner.
Negi claimed that this initiative follows the success of a door-to-door waste collection programme introduced in the same areas three to four months ago. The door-to-door system has significantly reduced waste accumulation and encouraged shopkeepers to adopt better waste disposal practices. He said that the municipal teams conducted sweeping operations on Ghat Road, Mukherjee Marg and other major routes late on Wednesday. The collected waste was loaded into designated vehicles for disposal. The municipal staff worked diligently to ensure that no litter remained on the streets post-sweeping. Negi emphasised on the importance of community participation in maintaining cleanliness and requested all shopkeepers and business owners to cooperate by using dustbins and avoiding littering. Those failing to comply will face fines and further legal consequences, he said. He said that the night sweeping initiative, combined with the ongoing waste collection efforts, is expected to bring a visible improvement in the cleanliness of Rishikesh’s bustling market areas.
