Yamuna Cleanliness Drive: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Minister Parvesh Verma Lead Charge
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Minister Parvesh Verma lead a massive Yamuna cleanliness drive at Haathi Ghat, urging citizens to save the river.
In a significant push to restore the health of the city's lifeline, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma personally participated in a Yamuna cleanliness drive on Sunday. The event took place at Haathi Ghat, located near the ITO area, where the leaders joined citizens in a hands-on effort to remove waste and pollution from the riverbanks.
A Massive Public Response
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed her satisfaction with the overwhelming response to the government's call for action. She noted that the campaign has seen an incredible surge of support from various sectors of society.
"This is a moment of joy for all of us. When a call was made under the Yamuna Cleanliness Campaign, thousands of youths from Delhi, along with numerous Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and various social organizations, stepped forward to participate," CM Gupta stated.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the drive is not just a one-day event but a call to change habits, suggesting that cleanliness should be integrated into the daily lives of every resident.
The Challenge of Ritual Waste
During the cleaning process at the ghats, CM Gupta pointed out a specific and recurring problem: the disposal of religious materials into the water. She revealed that while cleaning, she encountered broken idols, garments belonging to deities, and other ritual remnants.
She highlighted that tons of such materials are frequently left in the river, contributing significantly to the contamination of the Yamuna. While acknowledging that pollution stems from multiple sources, she asserted that the government is dealing with these issues with "great strictness."
Government Action and Infrastructure
The administration has already taken several technical steps to combat the river's degradation. CM Gupta mentioned that lakhs of tonnes of silt have been removed from drains over the past year, promising that the river will gradually appear cleaner if the public continues to cooperate.
Adding to this, Minister Parvesh Verma stressed the importance of the river to the city's survival. He noted that the government's primary responsibility lies in managing the sludge and the drains that flow into the river.
Key Infrastructure Developments:
- Sewage Treatment Plants: New plants are being developed to ensure waste is treated before reaching the river.
- Sewer Connections: Extensive work is underway to install proper sewer connections across the city.
- High-Level Support: Minister Verma credited the support of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister in facilitating these critical infrastructure projects.
Minister Verma concluded that residents are increasingly recognizing the Yamuna as the lifeline of Delhi, and the government remains committed to cleaning the ghats and improving the overall ecosystem of the river.