Gurgaon: MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya on Thursday directed civic body officials to closely monitor the night-time operations of the city’s mechanical sweeping machines and ensure regular inspections. Dahiya instructed officials to carry out inspections through the inspection app launched by MCG. TOI reported on Thursday that one-third of the city’s mechanical sweeping machines did not move at all on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.The commissioner also directed the agency responsible for operating the machines to repair those that were non-functional. The agency assured the civic body that most of the machines would be repaired by Nov 5, with the remaining repairs to be completed by Nov 15 at the latest. The commissioner also directed joint commissioners to inspect the machines and monitor their functioning to ensure they remain operational and are deployed as required.At a sanitation and pollution control review meeting held at his office on Thursday, Dahiya instructed officials to submit inspection reports through the Inspection App. “I have asked the officials to ensure that malfunctioning road-sweeping machines are repaired within stipulated deadlines,” he said.TOI reported on Thursday that an analysis of GPS data from an overnight shift on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday showed seven out of 20 sweepers recorded no movement, while the remaining 13 covered just 122.7km between them during the 14-hour reporting window. According to MCG’s clean air action plan submitted to CAQM, it has identified a total of 404.6km of road length suitable for mechanical road sweeping. Only four sweepers recorded operating durations exceeding one hour and five minutes. Only one of these four vehicles operated for as long as four hours and 15 minutes. The other nine logged between 22 and 51 minutes each. According to MCG officials, each machine is required to cover at least 30km daily at a speed of 3kmph to 5kmph.In the review meeting on Thursday, Dahiya also directed teams to inspect roads across the city and assess the accumulation of dust, garbage, construction and demolition (C&D) waste and horticultural waste. Officials were asked to submit reports on the findings. MCG will coordinate with other departments responsible for roads to strengthen its dust-free campaign, with the aim of controlling road dust and reducing air pollution.The commissioner directed sanitation agencies to provide the workforce and equipment required under their tender conditions. Agencies that fail to deploy the prescribed manpower and resources could be blacklisted, in line with directions issued by mayor Raj Rani Malhotra, he said. Officials were also instructed to conduct regular checks on the quality of sanitation work and the availability of resources and to ensure that deficiencies are addressed promptly.Dahiya ordered round-the-clock monitoring of incidents involving the burning of garbage and other materials, directing officials to respond immediately upon receiving information about such cases. He also instructed officials to continue regular water sprinkling on roads to suppress dust and strengthen pollution control measures.The commissioner emphasised that continuous inspections, timely corrective action and effective monitoring were essential to improving sanitation and curbing pollution. Officials were told to closely track the operation of mechanised road sweepers, road-cleaning activities, dust-control measures and incidents of waste burning, and submit reports through the prescribed procedures.
