Jantar Mantar protests generate 15,000 kg of waste daily, NDMC struggles to keep up

At Jantar Mantar, the growing crowds have brought with them a mounting waste problem. Plastic bottles, paper plates, and food packets line the protest site, accompanied by a constant stench.

An official from the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), responsible for waste management in the area, said there is no standard waste management protocol for gatherings exceeding 5,000 people daily. “Earlier, we collected around 500-600 kg of waste from Tolstoy Marg, Sansad Marg and Jantar Mantar Road. Now we lift nearly 15,000 kg of waste every day,” the official said.

To manage the waste, NDMC has deployed extra workers in three shifts: 50 in the morning, 15 in the afternoon, and 20 in the evening. The corporation also uses battery-operated litter-pickers, vacuum devices, fogging machines, and disinfectant sprays at regular intervals. Auto-tippers and garbage trucks coordinate with the police to remove waste.

Despite these efforts, garbage piled up over several days, especially near an abandoned building opposite Kerala House. According to NDMC officials, they could not access the area earlier due to lack of police clearance. “We didn’t have clearance from the district commissioner of police for the last couple of days. As soon as we got permission, the entire area was wet cleaned,” the official said.

Some protesters have taken it upon themselves to keep the site clean. Amaldeep Singh, 26, from Malout in Punjab, was seen collecting waste off the footpath. “This is seva (service). When I came here last night, I saw some children clearing waste. I thought why can’t I do this too?” he said. Priya, 25, a UPSC aspirant, said collecting waste gives her a sense of responsibility. “I want to show that we youth are not here to have fun, we can also take some responsibility… What is the kind of message we are trying to send out there?” she asked.

NDMC officials acknowledged the help of volunteers. “The children have been really helpful and have coordinated with us throughout to make our work easier,” the official said.

Not everyone collecting waste is a volunteer. Thirteen-year-old Janisar and his uncle Nasim, who collect scrap for a living, have been visiting the protest site to gather discarded plastic bottles. They sell the bottles to a scrap dealer on Minty Road, earning around Rs 800-900 a day.

Outside The Imperial Hotel, four portable toilets were installed by the Sachkhand Foundation, whose members are volunteering at the site. This comes amid reports that many protesters are experiencing headaches and sore throats due to overcrowding and open-air living. Volunteer doctors report cases of viral infections, dehydration, and other health issues. Amritpal Singh, a volunteer for Five River Heart organisation, said people are approaching them with throat infections and headaches, as well as dehydration and hypertension.