Delhi civic body launches clean-up, stray control drive ahead of BRICS Summit

The MCD has launched a citywide clean-up and beautification drive before the BRICS Summit in Delhi. Officials have been warned of personal accountability as civic teams race to spruce up venues and routes.The BRICS Summit will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on September 12 and 13. (Photo: PTI/File)The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has launched a citywide clean-up and beautification drive ahead of the BRICS Summit 2026, with a focus on cleanliness, stray animal control and sprucing up key venues and roads to be used by delegates. The summit is scheduled to be held on September 12 and 13.According to senior officials, the decision was taken at a review meeting on August 27, where MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar directed senior officers and zonal deputy commissioners to closely monitor preparations.Officials said he asked them to treat the summit preparations as a priority and warned that they would be held personally responsible for lapses, unclean streets and incomplete works in their areas.The MCD has formed specialised 24-hour animal control squads to keep stray cattle, street dogs and monkeys away from summit venues and delegation routes. Civic teams have been told to carry out intensive deep-cleaning drives at key venues and along major transit routes between September 1 and 13. The focus areas include Rajghat, Bharat Mandapam, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lotus Temple and Sunder Nursery, along with major shopping hubs such as South Extension. As part of the makeover, the civic body is focusing on repairing damaged roads, clearing construction waste and ensuring that public toilets near event sites are clean and functional.Civic workers have also been asked to turn neglected brown patches into green spaces, install decorative flower planters, repair streetlights and put up aesthetic lighting displays around prominent landmarks, officials said. Officials said, "Special attention will also be given to the BRICS Bazar event scheduled at the National Crafts Museum from September 8 to 10." Enforcement teams will work round the clock to remove illegal street vendors and unauthorised hoardings, and check illegal parking along major roads. Officials have also been asked to keep patrolling cleared stretches to prevent encroachments from returning.Public health officials have been directed to step up anti-mosquito fogging and spraying to minimise the risk of vector-borne diseases during the summit. The commissioner also asked officials to document the work through "before and after" photographs and warned that delays or negligence could invite disciplinary action, as the MCD pushes to complete the clean-up and beautification work before the summit.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 1, 2026 15:14 IST