Kolkata Municipal Corporation Unveils Rs 100 Crore Anti-Pollution Initiative
In a decisive move to combat the severe air pollution that plagues Kolkata during winter months, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) announced on Friday a significant budgetary allocation of approximately Rs 100 crore. This funding, designated for the solid waste management department in the financial year 2026-27, aims to procure state-of-the-art cleaning equipment to enhance urban hygiene and reduce particulate matter in the air.
Strategic Investment in Advanced Cleaning Technology
The allocated funds will be used to purchase a fleet of self-propelled road-sweeping machines, battery-operated mechanical sweepers, litter-sucking machines, and water sprinklers. This comprehensive approach targets various aspects of street cleaning to address pollution at its source. The self-propelled road-sweeping machines are specifically designed to tackle dust accumulation on congested roads, while the battery-operated sweepers will navigate the city's numerous narrow lanes and bylanes where larger vehicles cannot access.
An official from KMC elaborated on the rationale behind this investment, stating, "The numerous lanes and bylanes of Kolkata cannot be effectively swept with conventional road-sweeping machines. Currently, these areas are manually cleaned with hand-held brooms, which often leads to inefficient sweeping and garbage accumulation, negatively impacting public health and the environment." The introduction of electric mechanical machines is expected to revolutionize cleaning in these confined spaces.
Phased Deployment and Targeted Implementation
KMC has already initiated the procurement process, having purchased 20 self-propelled road-sweeping machines and some of the 20 mechanical sweepers ordered. Although the civic body currently operates six road-sweeping machines, they are reportedly less efficient, prompting this upgrade. The official further explained that initially, 20 such machines each are being acquired for the 16 boroughs under KMC's jurisdiction, with additional orders planned based on performance evaluations.
The deployment strategy focuses on areas with historically high air pollution levels. The large, self-propelled road-sweeping machines will be strategically stationed in zones such as:
- BT Road
- Shyambazar Five-Point crossing
- APC Roy Road
- C R Avenue
- J L Nehru Road
- Park Street
- Camac Street
- Asutosh Mukherjee Road
- Hazra Road
- Rashbehari
- Gariahat
- D H Road
- Jadavpur
Specialized Equipment for Public Spaces
In addition to road-sweeping machines, KMC plans to deploy litter-sucker machines in high-traffic public areas. These devices are deemed particularly suitable for markets, bus stops, and parks, where waste accumulation is common. By efficiently removing litter from these spaces, the corporation aims to improve overall cleanliness and reduce environmental contamination.
This Rs 100 crore initiative represents a proactive step by KMC to address Kolkata's persistent air quality issues, especially during the winter season when pollution levels typically spike. The integration of advanced technology into solid waste management is expected to yield significant benefits for public health and urban livability, setting a precedent for other Indian cities grappling with similar challenges.
