Ruckus at MCD House meet as AAP protests over pollution

The General House meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday witnessed uproarious scenes as members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protested over the worsening air pollution in the national capital.

Raising slogans inside the House, AAP councillors accused the BJP-led civic body and the Delhi Government of failing to take effective measures to tackle pollution. MCD Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang said Delhi’s residents were “tired of coughing” and blamed the government for “empty promises”.

“The pollution level is increasing day by day; the AQI has touched 700. This four-engine BJP government has drowned Delhi in waterlogging and is now watching people die from pollution,” Narang said. He demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, he also added, “How can a mayor who can’t clean his own area fix Delhi?”

Despite the protests, the House continued its proceedings for about an hour, during which several key proposals were passed.

Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said that the Corporation had approved a proposal to regularise daily-wage sanitation workers appointed on compassionate grounds between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2015. He said the MCD remained committed to safeguarding the interests of its sanitation workers and would continue to take similar steps in the future.

The Mayor also announced that the Corporation had granted approval for the establishment of four new solid waste processing plants across Delhi with a combined capacity of 5,100 metric tonnes per day at a cost of Rs 361.42 crore. The plants are expected to be operational within six months, after which, he said, no new waste would be dumped at landfill sites.

During the meeting, tributes were also paid to those who lost their lives in the recent blast near the Red Fort.

Mayor Singh accused AAP councillors of repeatedly disrupting proceedings instead of engaging in “constructive debate” on civic issues.

“Some councillors do not wish to discuss public welfare matters and try to create disorder in the House, but the proceedings continued smoothly despite interruptions,” he said.

The meeting also included discussions on sanitation, health, infrastructure, and other ward-level concerns, with the Mayor reiterating the MCD’s commitment to providing better civic amenities and improving living conditions in the capital.