MCD and Plastindia Foundation Sign MoU on CM’s Initiative, 250 Collection Centres to Be Set Up Across MCD Wards in First Phase
Delhi Residents Must Uphold Environmental Responsibility While Following Religious Traditions: CM Rekha Gupta
Idol Collection Centres a Key Step Towards Proper Management of Religious Materials: Mayor Pravesh Wahi
New Delhi, October 2026 : In a significant step towards aligning religious faith with environmental protection, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Plastindia Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the initiative of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Under the first phase, 250 idol collection kiosks will be set up across various MCD wards. Residents will be able to respectfully deposit damaged idols and related worship materials at these centres after religious rituals. The collected materials will then be properly managed, segregated and recycled. The initiative aims to curb the practice of indiscriminately dumping or immersing idols and worship materials in public places, on roads and in water bodies.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the initiative as an important step towards building a clean, green and environmentally sustainable Delhi. She said India's religious traditions teach us to respect nature and all living beings. Faith and devotion are integral to our cultural heritage, but protecting the environment and fulfilling our civic responsibilities are equally important. Ensuring the respectful collection of idols and worship materials after religious rituals is the need of the hour. This initiative will offer people a practical way to respect their religious sentiments while acting responsibly towards the environment.
The programme, held at the Delhi Secretariat, was attended by Delhi Mayor Shri Pravesh Wahi, Standing Committee Chairperson Smt. Satya Sharma, Leader of the House Shri Jaibhagwan Yadav, Municipal Commissioner Shri Sanjeev Khirwar and officials from the departments concerned.
The Chief Minister appealed to Delhi residents to deposit damaged idols and worship materials only at designated collection centres. She said that taking religious materials to these centres instead of leaving them on roads, in open spaces or in water bodies reflects citizens’ responsibility towards cleanliness and environmental protection. Even a small positive effort by every citizen can make a significant contribution to making Delhi clean, beautiful and environmentally friendly.
MCD to Operate and Manage the Kiosks
Under the agreement, once the idol collection centres are formally handed over, their day-to-day operation and management will be the responsibility of the MCD and the relevant government authorities. The MCD will arrange for staff deployment, cleanliness, maintenance, collection of materials and their timely transportation to authorised sites. Regular monitoring will help ensure that the centres remain clean, accessible and functional. The Delhi Government will facilitate coordination among the departments and agencies concerned, while the MCD will be responsible for implementation and monitoring at the local level.
CM’s Initiative Will Strengthen the Campaign: Mayor
Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi thanked Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta for the initiative and said that setting up idol collection centres was an important step towards the proper management of religious materials. The centres will provide designated places where residents can respectfully deposit damaged idols and worship materials, helping prevent such items from being scattered across public spaces. The MCD will focus on the effective operation, cleanliness and maintenance of the centres, along with the timely collection and transportation of deposited materials. He also appealed to residents to use the designated collection centres and actively participate in the collective effort to keep Delhi clean.
60 Kiosks Already Installed
Plastindia Foundation Chairman Alok Tibrewala said the foundation had developed, supplied and installed idol collection centres and kiosks at designated locations free of cost. This contribution reflects the foundation’s commitment to environmental protection and responsible waste management. So far, 60 kiosks have been installed. Proper collection and timely removal of religious materials will help prevent littering, obstruction in public spaces and improper disposal in water bodies. This will improve the city’s cleanliness and promote environmental protection.
