New Delhi

Pravesh Wahi on Saturday said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is targeting the complete flattening of the Bhalswa and Okhla garbage mountains by the end of this year, while remediation of the massive Ghazipur landfill is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

In an interview, the mayor outlined the civic body’s roadmap for waste management, sanitation, monsoon preparedness, stray animal control, and improving municipal revenues.

Wahi said the MCD is continuing biomining and remediation work at Delhi’s three legacy landfill sites as part of its long-term waste management strategy.

“Our immediate goal is to finish work at Bhalswa and Okhla before the end of this year. Work at Ghazipur is progressing steadily, and we are aiming for complete remediation there by the end of 2027,” he said.

According to the mayor, new machinery is currently being installed at the landfill sites, and operations are expected to gain momentum once the installation process is completed.

Addressing concerns over stray animals, including street dogs and monkeys, Wahi said the civic body is acting in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court of India and has intensified sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination drives.

He said sterilisation programmes are being conducted daily across the city and that the situation has already shown signs of improvement.

The mayor added that free anti-rabies vaccination facilities are available at several civic hospitals, including Swami Dayanand Hospital, while work is also underway on modern animal shelters, including a proposed dog kennel in Dwarka.

On preparations for the monsoon season, Wahi said nearly 70 per cent of desilting work in drains managed by the MCD has already been completed.

“Lakhs of tonnes of silt have been removed from drains across the capital. Advanced machinery is being used, and efforts are underway to ensure smaller drains are thoroughly cleaned before the rains,” he said.

The mayor also spoke about an upcoming cow dung-based biogas project, which is expected to become operational by July.

According to him, the facility will process nearly 200 tonnes of cow dung daily to generate biogas, while also helping reduce waste accumulation in drains and easing future desilting operations.

Responding to concerns about delayed textbook distribution in MCD schools, Wahi said complaints regarding textbooks for Classes 4 and 5 had been addressed and all students would receive their books before summer vacations conclude.

He also said financial assistance for school uniforms has already been directly transferred to the bank accounts of parents of lakhs of students.

On sanitation-related complaints, the mayor said civic officials have been directed to improve working conditions for sanitation workers and ensure they have access to proper tools, equipment, and facilities.

“There has already been significant improvement compared to earlier years, and residents will see further progress in the coming months,” he said.

Asked about the civic body’s estimated fiscal deficit of around Rs 15,000 crore, Wahi said the MCD plans to strengthen its financial position by increasing collections from parking charges, house tax, and property tax, while plugging revenue leakages.

“We are committed to substantially increasing municipal revenue. Wherever leakages exist, they will be identified and stopped,” he said.

The mayor also appealed to residents to cooperate with civic initiatives by segregating household waste and paying taxes on time.

Listing his immediate priorities, Wahi said improving public health services, sanitation, and overall cleanliness remains central to his administration.

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He noted that Delhi’s cleanliness ranking has improved significantly in recent years—from 92nd position to 32nd—and said the civic body now aims to place the national capital among the country’s top 10 cleanest cities next year, with support from the Delhi government.