By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court has asked the the Muncipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to get three areas of the capital swept at night.
Justice Manmohan, in a recent judgement, asked the MCD to implement night sweeping in Dwarka, Rani Bagh and Pitampura areas after the Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) of the three areas favoured this.
The court also asked the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to file a report on the status of implementing its night sweeping plans by Aug 7, the next date of hearing.
During an earlier hearing, the court had asked the MCD commissioner why action should not be taken against him for contempt of court for not abiding by its orders.
The court was hearing a public suit filed by advocate Ravinder Raj for implementing night sweeping in the capital.
Following the directions of the high court in April 2003, the MCD had decided to continue the night cleaning in 46 select zones on a permanent basis and to extend it to more zones in future.
The night sweeping in 46 zones was started on an experimental basis.
“The MCD told the court that it gets the roads swept at night in 46 colonies. But there are over 4,000 colonies in Delhi, and the MCD seems in no mood to begin the measure in those colonies,” Ravinder Raj said.
“City roads are swept between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., exposing schoolchildren, office-goers and morning walkers to dust. Dust pollution can cause a number of severe ailments, apart from being a public nuisance. Health experts say dust has carcinogenic components like lead and aluminium,” he added.