PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The 100-day cleanliness drive of the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has failed to achieve significant on-ground impact nearly a month into its 100-day cleanliness drive, with little to no improvement in the condition of key rivers and drainage systems. Observers point out that long-standing gaps in the system continue to perpetuate the lack of the desired level of sanitation in the provisional State capital which the corporation cannot tackle with formal drives especially aimed at Swacchta Survekshan surveys.
Launched last month, the campaign focuses on restoring the Bindal River and Rispana River, both of which are affected by untreated sewage inflow, solid waste dumping and silt accumulation. However, after about 25 days, visible pollution persists across several stretches, raising concerns about execution at the field level. Residents living near the Bindal bridge said that the situation remains largely unchanged. Local resident Gautam Chachar said that despite claims of regular cleaning, the same level of waste is visible. Blocked channels lead to overflow during the monsoon, pushing garbage into nearby residential areas, he said.
Another resident Om Singh said that while periodic cleaning occurs, the area quickly returns to its previous condition due to continued dumping and weak waste control. The condition of city drains or nalas reflects similar issues. Inadequate desilting and poor solid waste management reduce flow capacity, increasing the risk of urban flooding during heavy rainfall, a recurring concern in Dehradun’s low-lying zones.
Apart from this, residents in various wards allege that local councillors ensure cleaning near their residence while ignoring the rest of the ward. Claims made by the corporation about tackling garbage dumping in public places have had limited results so far with most parts of the city being afflicted by littering on a large scale.
Deputy municipal commissioner Tanvir Marwah said that the cleanliness drive is ongoing and subject to daily monitoring. He said that the MCD has been continuously monitoring performance and that action will be taken against negligence.
