Deep cleaning drive across state: Shinde launches ‘Maha Swachhta Abhiyan’

For the clean up campaign on Sunday, the civic body deployed 340 vehicles including compactors, dumpers, sludge dewatering machines, JCBs, tractors, water tankers among other sanitation devices into service.

Speaking at the launch of the statewide cleanliness campaign on Sunday, Shinde said that the concept for the initiative started with an aim to curb the increasing pollution in Mumbai.

“It was decided to clean an entire area simultaneously by bringing manpower and equipment from various departments together. Initially, we undertook cleaning and washing of the entire road with a jet spray to remove brush dust. Recycled water is being used for road washing. Now, steps have been taken to keep drains clean, undertake regular cleaning of public toilets as well as remove unauthorised hoardings,” he said.

Announcing the plan to launch a ‘green corridor’ along the Eastern Expressway, Shinde added that efforts are also underway to increase the city’s green cover.

Meanwhile, municipal commissioner and state appointed administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal, who was present during the event launch, said that 22,000 km of roads have been washed as a part of the deep cleaning drive resulting in reduced pollution levels in the city.

Addressing the crowd, Chahal added, “A resolution has been taken to wash 1,000 km of roads every day. A total distance of 22,000 km and 13 sections have been washed and cleaned so far. Furthermore, 183 tonnes of garbage and 1,100 tonnes of radar (debris) have been lifted.”

Following the campaign launch, Shinde visited and participated in a cleaning campaign across ten city pockets including the Byculla Zoo, Naigaon, Bandra railway station, Versova, Goregaon, Kurla, Govandi, Powai’s Hiranandani Complex and Kandivali.

According to BMC officials, nearly 1,000 sanitation workers as well as volunteers joined hands to undertake the drive. During the course of the campaign, the minister was seen interacting with sanitation workers, NGO workers as well as citizens.

Impressed by the impact, on December 17, Shinde had said that the city’s deep cleaning drive would be extended across the state.