40 water tankers, 16 mechanical sweeping machines flagged off

NEWDELHI: With winters approaching and air pollution levels gradually degrading in Delhi, Union minister of state for urban and housing affairs Hardeep Singh Puri flagged off 16 mechanical road sweeping machines and 40 water tankers on Friday at an event held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.

While the sweeping machines would be used to clean roads to bring down dust pollution, the water tankers would be used to sprinkle water on rods to further clean the air.

Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal was also present at the event.

Speaking at the programme, Union minister Puri said the Swachhta Campaign has become a people’s movement and under it, everybody, including the L-G and the municipal corporations of Delhi, were working hard.

Baijal said the ministry has become “liberal” in releasing funds to the municipal corporations after Prime Minister Nar- endra Modi gave a call to give top most priority to the “Swachhta Mission”.

According to civic officials, the equipment was purchased at a cost of ₹300 crore under the Centre’s Swacchh Bharat Mission.

The officials said these sweeping machines will be distributed among the three municipal corporations. Six each will be given to the south and east Delhi municipal corporations (DMCS) while four will be sent to the North DMC. All new water tankers will be deployed with the SDMC.