Delhi recently battled a severe flood that break decades of records after Yamuna crossed the danger mark and continued to overflow for days submerging low-lying areas like never before. The situation has put forward the crucial task of tackling vector-borne diseases like Dengue and rising cases of Conjunctivitis in the national capital before authorities. Torrential rains flooded drains in Delhi and hit the processing of garbage as well. In an exclusive conversation with ABP Live, Delhi Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi explained how the MCD is working to deal with the garbage menace in the city and what all preparations are being done to deal with cases of Dengue.


 


Yamuna Flood: There Is Need Of Proper Town Planning, Says Oberoi 


The unprecedented flood in Delhi this year broke four decades of record inundating several low-lying areas across the national capital. Hundreds of residents were evacuated and shifted to relief camps. However, with rain lashing Delhi every now and then, concerns remain about what changes are required in the future to avert this crisis. 


Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi said that what the authorities have learned from the crisis is that " we need to work on the town planning. We need to work on the low-lying areas where the jhuggis are there". She said that the MCD needs to work on the areas which can be converted into green areas and afforestation would be the right way to go about it  


On the issue of rehabilitation of those in relief camps, the mayor said that it would take nearly a month or two as water has still not subdued from the low-lying areas. 


"I think it will take one or two months...to free such low-lying areas from vector bone diseases. And also, I think if anyone is losing a house in such kind of situation, rehabilitation will take time...we have given them assurance... people approached us that they have lost important documents due to the water stagnation and waterlogging. So, we have assured them that in coming days, the counselors and the MLAs will be organising camps such to help those who lost their Aadhar card, voter ID card and others," she said. 


 


Mayor's Advice To People On Controlling Dengue And Conjunctivitis Menace


Talking about dealing with Dengue in the aftermath of Yamuna, the mayor said, "A few days back honorable CM took joint meeting of Delhi government health department and the Public Health Department of the MCD in which every officer was there. Even the commissioner andthe chief secretary were there."


She said that CM gave clear instructions to both the Departments that 'we really need to prepare because of the monsoon, because of the flood situation as there are chances that the Dengue, malaria cases could be more as compared to the last year'. 


She said that instructions have been given to Malaria Inspector and Assistant Malaria Inspector and other workers as well. She told ABP Live that every officer has been asked to work on fields along with the counselors and the MLAs.


"They should go to the every household and check that there is no mosquito breeding. And if any mosquito breeding is found and the challan and notices would be given."


Focusing on awarenss, Oberoi said that public awareness is very much important. "The community participation is very much important. So that such cases can be reduced in the coming days," she said.


 


'Focus On Preventing Fresh Garbage From Becoming Legacy Waste'


On the concern of the garbage problem, that Delhi has, especially in the East Delhi area, MCD mayor Shelly Oberoi admitted that much work needs to be done, adding that BJP did 'nothing' for 15 years, 'so the change would take some time'. 


"Our main concern is we need to work on the fresh garbage so that it does not go to the landfill and become the Legacy waste...a few months back, especially in the Shahdara area, we facilitated almost 100 colonies who adopted the concept of the zero waste colonies in which the garbage is being disposed of at source," Oberoi told ABP Live. 


She further said, "...definitely the East Delhi is a lot of challenge and recently Delhi faced a lot of challenge due to flood situation as a record of 40 years was broken." The mayor said that MCD is working continuously in coordination with the Delhi government to set an example of a world-class model. 


On the question of whether Okhla landfill will be cleared by December this year, as announced by the CM and other ministers, Dr. Oberoi said that biomining is being done there 24/7 and the height of the garbage mountain has decreased.  


"But as far as the monsoon season is concerned, the work gets slower because of the rainfall. It's very difficult to operate machinery at that time. Biomining is not easy at that time. So, we are trying our best and let's see when we will achieve our target," the mayor added. 


 


 


Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram: https://t.me/officialabplive