MCD has many Facebook fans

More than 400 netizens welcomed the civic agency to the social networking site

MCD has many Facebook fans

More than 400 netizens welcomed the civic agency to the social networking site

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) seems to be having better luck with Delhiites in the virtual world compared to the real one. As the civic agency came up with its page on the social networking site Facebook, the people of the city gave it a warm welcome with more than 400 users liking the page.

"I am happy to sign in to the MCD's facebook page. The problems and suggestions highlighted by citizens will receive prompt attention. We all should join hands to ensure that garbage is removed from the designated sites and the city remains clean," wrote the civic agency's commissioner KS Mehra with the inauguration of the page.

The MCD handles municipal services such as road paving, garbage clearance, maintaining public toilets and collecting property tax for most of the capital city. But the facebook page set up by the municipal body is specifically to "welcome citizen participation in monitoring the garbage collection sites in Delhi."

"I am extremely pleased to formally launch this initiative for improving the monitoring of clearance of garbage in the city of Delhi. I hope that with the cooperation of citizens and prompt action by MCD, the city will become cleaner. My best wishes to all concerned," wrote Prithvi Raj Sawhney, Delhi Mayor.

Residents have already posted some complaints on the MCD page, though not all of them are about garbage. The complaints were also related to other civic issues.

"Open spaces at G block Hari Nagar Jail road (opposite Om Sweets) is being used as a dumping ground. Matter has been conveyed to the MCD earlier also but no action has been taken so far," posted facebook user Daljit Singh.

"This is really a nice initiative but why is it restricted only to garbage? One of the users posted a photo of an open sewer in front of her home which is life threatening...MCD should take such things into consideration on facebook," posted Ajay Rohera on Wednesday just a few hours after the page was launched.

Trash talk

Delhi is the first city in the world to use facebook as a platform for sanitation and to monitor garbage cleaning. So, if your locality stinks and no action has been taken after a large number of complaints, this page will solve your problem by just posting the details and the photographs on it.
"The page will be aimed at monitoring cleanliness and garbage removal in the city. The citizens can also interact with us. They can upload pictures, videos or file a complaint about sanitation condition in their area which will then be addressed fast," said Anshu Prakash, Additional Commissioner, Engineering, MCD.
There are a total of 2,500 garbage-dumping sites in the areas under MCD's jurisdiction and their locations are listed on the page. People can register their complaints and suggestions online.

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