Safai Mitra’ web app launched as residents raise waste concerns in Doon

Dehradun: Members of the Dehradun Citizens’ Forum (DCF) on Saturday launched ‘Safai Mitra’, a web app that allows residents to report waste-related issues in the city.The platform, developed as a citizen reporting tool, can be accessed by scanning a QR code. Complaints will be shared with the municipal corporation for action.The launch comes amid concerns over waste management, with DCF members flagging a gap between claims made by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) and the ground situation. They cited uncollected waste, unmanaged dumping sites and instances of open burning in several areas.“The ground reality is different from what authorities claim. Garbage dumps are increasing along roads and even in rivers, and waste burning has become common,” said Retu Chatterjee, adding that citizens are yet to witness measurable improvements.Issues such as the ban on single-use plastic and source segregation continue to see weak implementation, said Ramana Kumar. “For the past two years, the same concerns have been raised without resolution,” he added.Anoop Nautiyal raised concerns over accountability, saying promises made by the mayor and the corporation remain largely unfulfilled. He also questioned whether DMC has a plan to manage rising waste volumes with increased traffic following the opening of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway. The forum also pointed to the limited public use of DMC’s existing garbage management app.Explaining the new platform, Major Rishabh Uniyal, one of the developers of ‘Safai Mitra’, said it allows users to “scan, report and demand change”, with complaints routed directly to authorities. He added that the platform will be updated to improve responsiveness. DCF members said the app is intended to complement existing systems by strengthening citizen participation and improving last-mile accountability, not replace official mechanisms.Senior DMC officials said steps are being taken to address concerns, including tackling construction waste, cleaning rivers, preventing waste burning and clearing garbage-prone areas.“We have increased our fleet and rotations for door-to-door collection and clearance of public spaces. Focus is also on source segregation, and we expect improved results,” Dehradun mayor Saurabh Thapliyal said.Dehradun generates about 500 metric tonnes of municipal waste daily across 100 wards spread over 196 sq km.