NEW DELHI: Don’t reduce Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to a mere “ritual”, the Delhi high court told civic agencies in the capital on Thursday.

Angry that despite a nationwide call, the corporation continues to ignore “unimaginable garbage and filth” in Chandni Chowk area, HC also summoned the North Delhi Municipal Corporation commissioner along with secretary PWD, Delhi government.

“When the PM and President came to Ramlila grounds, you should have taken a detour so that they could see Chandni Chowk. Whatever happened on 2nd October, lets not reduce it to just a ritual, we are told by the PM there is a need for cleanliness, so lets get it done,” a special bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and S Muralidhar said.

HC’s acerbic comments came after photographs showing garbage strewn across streets in Chandni Chowk were submitted before it by the local ‘Vyapar Mandal’.

The court observed how “photographs reveal a sordid state of affairs”, and ordered the North Corporation commissioner and the PWD secretary to file affidavits giving an undertaking entire area will be cleaned. “Commissioner must eliminate unhygienic conditions and ensure that a garbage renewal mechanism is put in place ”.

The court further slammed the state agencies for “inordinate delay” in executing previous court orders and noted that traffic and other prevailing conditions in Chandni Chowk are abysmal.

Through a petition filed by Manushi Sangathan, the special bench is monitoring a plan to decongest traffic in Chandni Chowk and efforts to create non-motorized vehicle (NMV) lanes in the area under its zonal development plan.

Appearing for Manushi, advocates Indira Unninayar, Kirat Randhawa and Narayan Krishan informed HC that despite repeated directions agencies had failed to implement earlier court directions including earmarking NMV lanes.

On Thursday, HC was hearing an offshoot of the main case, a contempt petition filed by local traders accusing the agencies of creating chaos in the area by bowing to demands of Ramlila organizers to keep the parking shut, ostensibly on security grounds.

