New Delhi, March 24 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) organized a walkathon in south Delhi on Tuesday as part of its "Dust-Free Delhi" campaign, with over 500 residents participating, officials said.
The walkathon, led by MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, began at 7 am from DDA Park in Vasant Vihar and concluded at the MCD Nursery after covering a distance of approximately three kilometers.
According to a statement by the MCD, Councillor Himani Jain and South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar were also present at the event, which included musical performances and awareness activities aimed at encouraging community participation in dust mitigation and environmental protection.
Addressing the participants, Khirwar spoke about the need for sustained efforts to control dust pollution in the city.
"We must adopt proactive and long-term measures to curb dust pollution. The goal is to develop zero-waste colonies and ensure waste segregation at the source to strengthen solid waste management," he said.
As part of the initiative, protective masks were distributed to sanitation workers, also known as "Swachhata Sainiks," with support from the Ecowings NGO.
Khirwar emphasized that the health and safety of sanitation workers are paramount. He issued formal directives to implement enhanced safety protocols to prevent road accidents involving field staff, underscoring the importance of their well-being.
Tracksuits were presented to sanitary superintendents and sanitary inspectors in recognition of their service. T-shirts were also distributed free of charge by the MCD concessionaire, SSIL, the officials said.