MCDs cast doubt on Swachchh app success in Delhi

The BJP-led three municipal corporations in Delhi, which are at loggerheads with the Kejriwal government in the city over alleged lack of assistance, have a new cause to blame the Aam Aadmi Party over the mechanism of the Swachchh Delhi App.

The civic agencies claim that even after 72-hours of announcing the android-based application and receiving more than 5,000 complaints about garbage lying in the city, no full-proof method to tackle this has been made as yet. The agencies have also doubts over its success, claiming that a complainant needs GPS-enabled android phone to register complaint while there is no guarantee that he/she would have the same. Additionally, complainant will have to download “Swachchh App” first.

South Delhi mayor Subhash Arya said that despite launching the drive, no development has been made so far. The app has lots of faults following which corporations have been unable to address a majority of the complaints. As it requires proper mechanism, the government must look after this. “Though we have been receiving complaints, there is no clarity about the location which is necessary. The agency, which is forwarding complaints on behalf of the government, is yet to mention whether complaint is related with garbage or solid waste. If the area falls under the limits of unauthorised colony, it must be mentioned as the government has to collect garbage and debris from such places,” said Mr Arya.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation spokesperson Mukesh Yadav said the civic agency already has several similar mechanisms in place, but there is no integration.

North corporation mayor Ravinder Gupta too claimed lack of cooperation on executing the programme. He said that despite the high-profile launch by the Kejriwal government of the app, no further communication has been made on how to run it properly. The government is forwarding pictures with little details but agencies require more to address these complaints. “The municipal corporations will do garbage disposal and PWD will take the charge of disposing debris. The decision to divide the work between PWD and municipal corporations was taken in a meeting with the Delhi CM, but there has been no segregation of complaints yet,” Mr Gupta said. There are heaps of garbage lying in unauthorised parts of the city and the government has to collect it but no word has been spoken yet. The authorities has limited resources and can not manage entire affair without support,” Mr Gupta said.