CM Rekha Gupta leads cleaning and washing drive amid pollution rise

Amid concerns of a rise in Pollution in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led a cleaning and washing drive on the Ring Road at Khyber Pass Chowk in Civil Lines, and personally participated in sweeping and water-sprinkling operations. The Chief Minister said that this campaign is a significant step towards making Delhi pollution-free and ensuring effective dust control. She added that regular road washing, mechanical sweeping, and on-ground monitoring across the city are being undertaken with great speed and seriousness. She said that for the first time in Delhi’s history, a washing campaign has been carried out across the entire Ring Road.

She added that dust is a major contributor to pollution. To address this permanently, roads are being constructed wall-to-wall. She alleged that previous Governments neither took an interest in road construction nor ensured that roads were built wall-to-wall, resulting in dust being blown across Delhi throughout the year. However, her government has now ensured a permanent solution.

The Chief Minister further informed that elected representatives are being given adequate budget allocations to construct such strong and dust-resistant roads. She said that each MLA is being allocated Rs 10 crore so that they can initiate the construction of these roads in their constituencies. The Chief Minister stated that the Delhi Government is working to stop the use of coal and wood in the open, alongside addressing pollution on a long-term basis. For this, the Government has begun providing electric heaters to security guards and electric irons to those who iron clothes, so that reliance on traditional fuels can end. She appealed to all sections of society and companies to contribute through CSR funds to help provide electric heaters and electric irons to citizens in need, enabling them to adopt cleaner alternatives.

Sharing details of the Government’s efforts to control pollution, the Chief Minister said that the Government is rapidly moving towards its target of fully transitioning public transport to electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, around 3,500 electric buses are operating on Delhi’s roads, and the Government aims to convert the city’s entire public transport system to EVs by the end of 2026. The Chief Minister urged the public to use carpooling and public transport more frequently.

Speaking on dust control, the Chief Minister said that extensive cleaning operations are underway across Delhi. Around 200 water-sprinkler vehicles are deployed daily on the Ring Road to clear dust from trees, remove roadside silt, and carry out regular watering along the central verge.

She said the Government is taking a new step every day to reduce pollution. Appealing to the public, she said that citizens must also contribute to this campaign. She emphasised that Governmental efforts will only succeed when people understand their responsibility and actively participate in this movement.