Delhi CM Joins Cleanliness Drive, Calls for Public Support to Revive Yamuna
New Delhi: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday joined volunteers, youth groups, social organisations and residents in a cleanliness drive at Yamuna Ghat in Chilla village under the ‘Clean Delhi with CM’ campaign. The event aimed to highlight the need for collective efforts to restore the Yamuna river, which has been plagued by pollution for decades.
Speaking at the drive, Ms. Gupta said the Yamuna, revered by millions for centuries, faces a grave pollution challenge. She emphasised that restoring the river requires “collective action” by the government and citizens alike. “The government is modernising sewage treatment plants, expanding the sewer network, and tapping drains flowing into the river in a phased manner,” she said, outlining the administration’s efforts towards scientific and sustainable rejuvenation.
The Yamuna, one of India’s most sacred rivers, has long suffered from untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and solid waste dumping. Despite numerous government initiatives, including the Yamuna Action Plan, progress has been slow. The Delhi government’s current strategy focuses on upgrading infrastructure and involving local communities in cleanup efforts.
Ms. Gupta’s participation in the drive is part of a broader push to foster public awareness and participation. Similar campaigns have been organised across the city, with residents and NGOs working together to clean riverbanks and ghats. The Chief Minister urged citizens to adopt sustainable practices and avoid dumping waste into the river.
Environmental experts have welcomed the renewed emphasis on public involvement but caution that long-term solutions require consistent policy implementation and inter-state cooperation. The Yamuna flows through multiple states, and pollution control efforts in Delhi alone may not be sufficient.
The ‘Clean Delhi with CM’ initiative is expected to continue with regular drives and awareness programmes. The government has also announced plans to set up real-time water quality monitoring stations along the river.
