New Delhi, 16 August 2025:
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has marked a major achievement in its flagship initiative “Delhi’s Freedom from Garbage” campaign, held between August 1 and 14, 2025. The large-scale cleanliness movement combined citizen engagement, waste management efficiency, beautification drives, and anti-plastic campaigns to transform Delhi into a cleaner, greener capital.
Mass Citizen Participation
A record 2,61,059 residents across Delhi took the Swachhta Pledge, committing themselves to responsible waste disposal. Thousands also participated in awareness rallies, plog runs, and sanitation activities, showcasing a collective responsibility for civic cleanliness.
Intensive Cleanliness Operations
- 917 drives at government offices cleared nearly 10,700 kg of accumulated waste.
- 1,138 drives at public toilets improved hygiene and odour control.
- 404 night-sweeping drives in commercial markets ensured better upkeep.
- 484 back-lane cleaning drives targeted congested neighbourhoods.
- 702 drives in parks and gardens preserved public green spaces.
- 1,343 school-based drives engaged students and staff in Swachhta awareness.
Record Waste Collection
MCD announced a notable rise in waste collection efficiency. Average daily Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) collection rose to 12,373 tonnes per day (TPD), up from last month’s 11,000 TPD. Along railway tracks alone, nearly 690 metric tonnes of waste was lifted. Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste collection stood at 3,624 TPD.
Beautification and Anti-Littering Measures
To improve the city’s aesthetics, 35,192 posters and banners were removed, and 160 walls were painted with cleanliness-themed murals. In slum clusters, 205 garbage-vulnerable points were restored and 417 drains desilted.
Public Awareness & Green Initiatives
The MCD held 419 awareness drives against single-use plastic, engaging over 12,000 stakeholders including RWAs and market associations. Between 6–8 August, 29,737 plantation drives were carried out to strengthen Delhi’s green cover.
Youth & School Engagement
Over 1.26 lakh students joined school-based cleanliness programmes, while 138 plogging drives engaged 16,691 youth, combining fitness with civic responsibility.
Addressing Civic Challenges
Officials noted that while progress is evident, public behaviour remains a challenge with littering and use of single-use plastic persisting. The MCD, through continuous cleanliness campaigns, public awareness, and beautification projects, aims to instil civic pride and long-term change.
“A clean Delhi needs a behavioural shift,” an MCD spokesperson said, reiterating the civic body’s commitment to making the city garbage-free and environmentally sustainable.
