(a) whether Delhi has been listed as the 24th dirtiest city in the world;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government in consultation with State Government has taken any concrete steps to keep the Delhi city clean; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT(SHRI SAUGATA ROY)

(a)&(b): As per news item appeared in the Times of India`s website on 16.10.2008, the Forbes magazine has published the Forbes report on 22.2.2008 based on Mercer`s Health and Sanitation Rankings, 2007, ranking 215 cities based on levels of air pollution, waste management, water potability, hospital supplies, medical services and the presence of infectious diseases. Delhi scored 46.6 on the health and sanitation index and was rated as the 24th dirtiest city in the world.

(c)&(d): Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has informed that to improve the sanitation services Delhi, the Department of Environment Management Services (DEMS), MCD has started various schemes, like collection, segregation and transportation of garbage from MCD receptacles to Sanitary Landfill sites from six zones of MCD, placement of bins of green and blue colour in different parts of the city for collection of biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage. The MCD has initiated steps for starting the door-to-door collection of garbage in two zones, namely Rohini zone and Civil Lines Zone, as a Pilot Project. The MCD has also been mulling over introduction of mechanical sweepers in some parts of the city to sweep garbage during night hours.

New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has informed that the Health Department, NDMC is providing environmental sanitation in its whole area and making utmost efforts to provide best possible standards. NDMC is also carrying out collection, transportation and disposal of Garbage in NDMC area. NDMC has taken initiative to:-

i) Provide a `end to end` solution to waste management as Integrated Waste Management System.

ii) Increase efficiency and effectiveness of Waste Management activities.

iii) Comply with Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.

iv) Reduce the burden on landfills by recovering reusable and other resources.

The Government has launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to improve infrastructure and civic services in selected cities of the country and Delhi is one of the cities covered under the Mission.