The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has increased sanitation staff deployment by around 50% across parts of Lutyens’ Delhi after protests left accumulated waste, vandalised toilets and damaged public property in several high-use areas. The civic body said its special drive was under way in Mandi House, Jantar Mantar, Barakhamba Road, Janpath and Connaught Place.
The affected locations saw protests between October 7 and 13 over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the council collected more than 300 metric tonnes of waste daily during the protests and began additional cleaning and repair work after receiving complaints about dirty surroundings.
“NDMC had received complaints about waste and dirty surroundings after the protests and immediately started the drive to ensure that citizens, traders, embassy staff and people visiting schools did not face any inconvenience,” Chahal said, according to the civic body.
The areas covered by the operation include major public and institutional destinations. Parliament, government offices, embassies, VIP residences, hotels and schools are located within or near the affected parts of central Delhi, increasing the number of people and establishments dependent on regular sanitation and functioning public infrastructure.
NDMC said the drive also involved repairing vandalised public toilets and other public property. The council alleged that green belts, trees, plants and footpaths were damaged at several locations, while posters pasted on walls and slogans written on public surfaces affected the appearance and cleanliness of the areas.
“Such activities not only affect the beauty of the capital but also require additional resources to repair and maintain public properties,” Chahal said. NDMC members joined sanitation workers and civic staff in the operation around Mandi House.
Chahal also used social media to accuse Congress and other political parties of leaving large quantities of food packets on roads during the protests. He said hundreds of packets containing food had been wasted. Congress did not respond to the allegations cited in the report. A separate social media post showed Congress Seva Dal workers cleaning streets on Monday night.
The sanitation response highlights the operational burden placed on civic agencies when large gatherings occupy central-city roads, footpaths and public spaces. In this case, NDMC’s additional deployment is focused not only on removing waste but also on restoring toilets, greenery, footpaths and other public assets used by residents, workers, visitors and institutions.
The council said the special cleaning and restoration operation would continue in the affected areas to address accumulated waste, repair damage and maintain public surroundings after the protests.
