'Trashy New Delhi': NDMC springs into action after Danish diplomat's video on garbage dumped near embassy

The incident was brought to light by Danish diplomat HE Freddy Svane (right) NDMC workers remove garbage from outside the embassy of Denmark in Delhi. (Image credit: @svane_freddy, ANI/X)

Hours after a Denmark diplomat took to social media to highlight how the area surrounding the Danish embassy in Delhi is covered in trash and no efforts were being made by the authorities to clean it up, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) sprung into action and cleaned up the area. In a video shared by news agency ANI, earthmovers and sanitation workers were seen removing the heaps of garbage from a service road between the Danish and the Greek embassies.

#WATCH | After Denmark ambassador Svane Freedy in a video posted on 'X' today raised concerns over garbage lying near the Denmark embassy in Delhi, NDMC cleaned up the area pic.twitter.com/OuRcEtzEu2

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

Responding to the development, Danish diplomat to India HE Freddy Svane said, "I am the Danish ambassador to the great green and now clean New Delhi. This is the service lane here, and a few hours ago I put out a video to showcase that it could be a mess. But it takes human action, and the heroes from NDMC listened to the cry about why we should not leave such a beautiful lane full of trash. They took action. Dhanyawad!..This is about pointing at an issue not complaining. I am so proud that NDMC took action within a few minutes...I have lived here for 11 years. We love India..."

Delhi | Ambassador of Denmark Svane Freedy says, "This is the service lane here, and a few hours ago I put out a video to showcase that it could be a mess. But it takes human action, and the heroes from NDMC listened to the cry about why we should not leave such a beautiful lane… pic.twitter.com/a1rhUNQ6Hg

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

In his earlier video shared on X, Svane had said, "Welcome to great, green, and trashy New Delhi. This used to be a service lane, but you see, it is just full of trash, and people come here to do whatever they like to do here."

In the clip, the diplomat also said that he was hoping for authorities to take action and clean up the area. “No more nice words, just actions, my friend," he said. Svane also tagged the profiles of the Danish embassy in Delhi and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's office. "Lovely and green New Delhi. Many words but no action. Saddened by this," he added.

Lovely and green New Delhi. Many words but no action. Saddened by this @DenmarkinIndia @CMODelhi @LtGovDelhi pic.twitter.com/ZRH9wutfsm

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— daikanyama (@svane_freddy) May 8, 2024

The video and Svane's message struck a chord with social media users and with Delhi residents with many taking to social media to point out how embarrassing it was for the national capital's garbage woes to be called out publicly by a Danish diplomat.

"How embarrassing. Danish diplomat appeals to clear rubbish lying next to the embassy in New Delhi," wrote Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina).

"This is shameful. This is the condition of the Denmark Embassy in New Delhi. What happened to Atithi Devo Bhava?" added Gems of Engineering (@gemsofbabus_).