Reacting to viral videos showing the pollution of the Yamuna river, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said the government is taking all necessary steps to reduce contamination and keep the river clean.
Gupta was speaking at the 23rd Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS).
She added that people will always have something to say – “kuch toh log kahenge” – but noted that the administration was proactive in addressing both the pollution of the Yamuna and the city’s poor air quality.
Gupta assured residents that efforts to combat pollution in the nation’s capital continue and are on a round-the-clock mission mode.
Watch the video here:
Earlier in the day, in a post on X, the Delhi Chief Minister said that hundreds of sprinklers are being used to wash the city circuit. She explained that this road cleaning takes place at regular intervals and thus plays a vital role in reducing dust and pollution.
The Yamuna covers about 40 km through Delhi, enters the city at Palla on the Haryana border and flows into Uttar Pradesh at Asgarpur.
“For the first time in Delhi, hundreds of sprinkler vehicles are washing the ring road of the capital city. Our mission is one for all – to control pollution. Our government is fully alert and determined to wage a decisive war against pollution at all levels. Through these sprinkler vehicles on the Ring Road, road washing is carried out at regular intervals, which helps reduce dust and pollution. This initiative is an effective step to improve air quality and also reflect the citizens on a clean environment,” he wrote. Gupta.
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Earlier in March, a parliamentary committee said the Yamuna’s ability to support aquatic life was almost non-existent in the Delhi stretch, pointing out that 23 of the 33 sites monitored — including six in the state capital — failed to meet basic water quality standards, PTI reported.
Air pollution in Delhi
Air quality in the national capital remained in the “very poor” category on Saturday morning as the air quality index (AQI) settled at 335 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Despite a slight improvement in recent weeks, several parts of the city remained shrouded in a thick layer of toxic smog.
Many areas, including Ghazipur Mandi, Anand Vihar and Wazirpur, reported dense haze early this morning, with visibility remaining severely reduced.
Air quality in Delhi fluctuated wildly during the week, with the city recording an AQI of 279 on Sunday, 304 on Monday, a spike to 372 on Tuesday and 342 on Wednesday.
Pollution issue raised in Rajya Sabha
Earlier on Thursday, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo slammed the BJP over deteriorating air quality across the country, especially in Delhi-NCR, and claimed that their “slogan of 400 par” is now complete as the AQI has crossed the 400 mark in the capital and adjoining areas in recent days.
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“Air pollution is causing many children, senior citizens and common people to suffer from lung diseases like asthma. If you see, air pollution is increasing day by day and the condition is getting worse mainly in Delhi-NCR. The slogan of 400 pairs ‘Safal Hoya Hai’ has reached 400 in Delhi and the air pollution in Delhi has reached 400,” she said referring to the national capital in the recent days of AQI.
During the winter session of Parliament, the upper house witnessed a heated exchange between new Speaker CP Radhakrishnan and opposition leaders who demanded a debate on air quality in the national capital.
(With input from agencies)
