Venkaiah Naidu for formation of citizen councils to ensure cleanliness

NEW DELHI: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today pitched for formation of " citizen councils" that can take the lead in maintaining cleanliness.

Inaugurating "Swachhta Pakhwada", a fortnight-long drive to ensure cleanliness in parks here, the Urban Development Minister said the citizen councils should have members nominated by resident welfare associations.

"Every area should have citizen councils which can have members nominated by resident welfare associations of the particular area and these councils will lead others in maintenance of cleanliness in those areas," he said at Hauz Khas district park here.

"There are 800 parks under DDA and all small parks have been handed over to municipal corporations and now work to maintain cleanliness is being undertaken seriously," he said.

The function was also attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi and BJP MLA Vijender Gupta.

"I went to Berlin recently and I was surprised to see that one-third of the area there is having forest cover and only 40 per cent of the population uses motor vehicles. I was sad that here we do not have such a scenario.

"When Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched, Prime Minister had told us that he doesn't want it to be a political initiative but a people's movement. Everybody has to be aware and everybody has to contribute," the minister said.