Garbage overflows from dhalaos in parts of south, central and west Delhi

Garbage is spilling from dhalaos onto roads in New Friends Colony, Deer Park, Katwaria Sarai, GT Road, Vedant Desika Marg and Church Road, adding to congestion and leaving food waste exposed to stray animals.

MCD officials said the problem is concentrated in the south, central and west collection zones, where contracts held by previous long-term operators have expired and replacement operators have not fully taken over. An MCD report submitted to the Delhi government in April put daily waste generation at more than 1,050 tonnes each in the central and south zones, and 1,308 tonnes in the west zone.

The three zones span 72 municipal wards, including Maharani Bagh, Friends Colony, Greater Kailash, Defence Colony, Panchsheel Park, Janakpuri and Rajouri Garden. In central Delhi, the original contract ended in 2022, followed by extensions, re-tendering and an interim six-month arrangement.

Officials said contractors with short tenures are less likely to invest in bins, auto-tippers and loaders needed for regular collection. MCD has also proposed an IIT Delhi audit of waste collection and processing.