Delhi: MCD panel approves ban on meat shops near schools, religious sites

The MCD Standing Committee on Wednesday cleared several key proposals, including a road maintenance plan and a dung processing plant at the Ghazipur abattoir, while barring meat shops within 100 metres of schools and religious sites.

In the Standing Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Chairperson Satya Sharma directed that “illegal or unlicensed” shops selling mutton and chicken “must be sealed immediately”.

The “One Road-One Day” scheme was unanimously passed at the meeting and will be implemented from September 1. Inspired by the Swachh Bharat Mission, it involves a complete overhaul, including cleaning, tree pruning, footpath repair, streetlight restoration, and encroachment removal, of one major road in each MCD zone every day.

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The goal is to visibly improve the city’s roads before October 2, the Swachh Bharat anniversary.

During the meeting, councillors demanded that each zone must have a dog shelter to address the growing concern over stray dogs. They said a policy for better stray dog management is currently being formulated and it was discussed in the meeting.

The committee also approved the construction of an automated multilevel puzzle parking facility at Bharat Darshan Park, Punjabi Bagh. The facility, equipped with smart technology, aims to ease traffic congestion and provide structured parking for visitors at the high-footfall destination.

The committee gave the green light to set up an ingesta and dung Processing plant at the Ghazipur slaughterhouse with Sharma calling it a “significant step towards cleanliness and environmental sustainability, especially in East Delhi.”

A proposal to improve waste collection and strengthen sanitation efforts in the Central Zone was also passed during the meeting.

The issue of MCD stepping up preventive measures amid rising cases of waterborne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, was discussed during the meeting.

From January 1 to June 30 this year, 313 cases of dengue, 284 of chikungunya, and 6,637 of malaria were reported, according to official data.

During the same period last year, 11 deaths were recorded due to these diseases while the city had registered 893 cases of malaria, 6,637 of dengue, and 313 of chikungunya.

The civic body has identified these as seasonal, waterborne diseases and is prioritising prevention. Extensive fogging, larvicide spraying, public awareness campaigns, and coordination with hospitals for case tracking are underway, officials said.

In the written response to a councillor’s question, it was stated that from April 1 to June 30, 2025, the MCD collected and tested over 870 water samples in coordination with the Delhi Jal Board.

Of these, 174 samples were found unsatisfactory, and necessary notifications were issued.

MCD-run hospitals have been designated as sentinel surveillance centres to monitor and respond to outbreaks. Hindu Rao Hospital alone has 75 beds reserved for patients suffering from waterborne diseases, with round-the-clock facilities in place.

The written reply also mentioned that the civic body has taken prompt action against unsafe drinking water supply.

When ever contaminated water is detected, it is reported to the Delhi Jal Board, and corrective measures are initiated. Joint efforts by public health teams and vector-borne disease surveillance units are currently underway across all 12 MCD zones.