Delhi University noticed a hike in the amount of waste guarding the walls of college campuses, giving way to health and safety concerns.
With the monsoon in full swing, the waste crisis at Delhi University has only worsened, as clogged drains and stagnant rainwater exacerbate the already deteriorating conditions around campus walls. Piles of garbage and construction debris have increasingly lined the perimeter walls of colleges, especially Shaheed Bhagat Singh College in South Campus, raising serious health and safety concerns.
Waste, including rubble, household trash, and discarded furniture, is routinely dumped along the college’s boundary facing the main road. Despite efforts by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), including clean-up drives and the recent installation of hidden CCTV cameras by the college, the situation has only worsened in recent months. Residents and local contractors continue to dispose of waste—often under the cover of night.
Rajinder Chauhan, a local snack vendor, in a conversation with Hindustan Times remarked:
MCD came around six weeks ago to clean this up, but it was half-hearted. The area wasn’t restored properly. People are still dumping trash here.
College Principal Arun Kumar Attree formally raised the issue with the MCD in a letter dated 21st November 2024, warning that the unhygienic conditions posed a threat to students, staff, and nearby residents. Student group ABVP also stepped in, with third-year BCom student Mohd Adnan Khan confirming a complaint had been filed, urging immediate intervention.
Neighbouring College of Vocational Studies (CVS) has reported slightly better conditions due to the presence of a garbage collection facility nearby. However, the issue persists across South Campus, particularly worsening during the monsoon season.
Principal Attree believes the bulk of the dumping originates from surrounding areas such as Chirag Delhi and Sheikh Sarai. Chetan Sharma, Chairman of the Federation of GK-2 Complex RWA, noted that this reflects larger issues of irresponsible public behaviour and unchecked urban waste disposal.
On 10th July 2025, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addressed the public, proudly highlighting the city’s improvement in flood management. She cited the absence of waterlogging at the historically flood-prone Minto Bridge as a sign of progress not seen in the past 27 years. However, this has sparked questions about the disparity in attention given to student-affiliated areas, which continue to suffer under neglect.
With the arrival of the new academic session just days away, urgent action is needed. Yet, no official response from the MCD has been recorded so far.
Featured Image Source: The Indian Express
Ananya Agarwal
Comments are closed.