NDMC's 'Anupam Colony' tag for Jor Bagh is not a rename, clarifies V-C Chahal
Synopsis
A single NDMC event invite triggered a political storm — and a swift rebuttal. Former Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the civic body of renaming Delhi's posh Jor Bagh, only for NDMC V-C Kuljeet Singh Chahal to clarify on X that 'Anupam Colony' is a zero-waste sustainability certification, not a new name. The episode exposes the communication gaps in civic sustainability programmes.
Key Takeaways
NDMC V-C Kuljeet Singh Chahal clarified on 16 May 2026 that Jor Bagh Colony is not being renamed.
The 'Anupam Colony' tag is a sustainability certification for zero-waste, eco-friendly neighbourhoods — not an official name change.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) had incorrectly alleged the NDMC was renaming the colony.
To qualify, colonies must achieve 100 per cent waste segregation and aim for zero landfill waste .
Other certified colonies include New Moti Bagh , Kaka Nagar , Bapu Dham , and Aradhana Cooperative Housing Society .
The certification event on 17 May 2026 also included a tree-plantation drive under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal on 16 May 2026 moved quickly to correct a misconception sparked by former Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, who had publicly accused the civic body of attempting to rename the upscale Jor Bagh Colony in New Delhi. Chahal clarified that the 'Anupam Colony' designation is a sustainability certification — not a change of the colony's official name.
How the Confusion Started
Chaturvedi shared an NDMC event invite on social media announcing the 'declaration of Jor Bagh colony as Anupam Colony', scheduled for 17 May 2026. She wrote: 'From Jor Bagh to Anupam Colony. The flaunting rights just taken away from Delhi's poshest colony.' The post implied the NDMC was stripping the colony of its identity — an interpretation that turned out to be factually incorrect.
What Chahal Said on X
Responding directly to Chaturvedi's post on X, Chahal wrote: 'You completely misunderstood it. The NDMC poster shared is not announcing a renaming of Jor Bagh to Anupam Colony. It's simply declaring Jor Bagh as an official Anupam Colony, a certification/tag given to colonies that achieve high standards of zero-waste and self-sustainable living.' He added: 'I repeat, the name hasn't changed. Anupam is merely a certification tag.'
The event, held at Jor Bagh itself, also featured a tree-plantation drive under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, Chahal noted.
What the Anupam Colony Tag Means
According to NDMC officials, the 'Anupam Colony' designation is a sustainability and cleanliness certification awarded to neighbourhoods that meet a defined set of eco-standards. To qualify, a colony must achieve 100 per cent waste segregation at source, process wet and horticultural waste on-site through composting units, deploy mechanised dust-free cleaning systems, and aim for zero waste sent to landfills — meaning no household waste needs to be transported outside the colony.
The initiative is described by NDMC as a model for decentralised waste management across the capital.
Colonies Already Certified
Chahal noted that several other residential areas have already received the Anupam Colony tag, including New Moti Bagh, Kaka Nagar, Bapu Dham, and Aradhana Cooperative Housing Society. Jor Bagh's inclusion places it among an expanding list of NDMC-certified zero-waste neighbourhoods.
Broader Context
The episode highlights how civic communication around sustainability initiatives can be easily misread when event invites lack sufficient explanatory context. Notably, NDMC's Anupam Colony programme is part of a wider push by Delhi's civic bodies to reduce dependence on landfills — a pressing concern given the capital's strained waste infrastructure. As the certification expands to more colonies, clearer public messaging will likely be essential to prevent similar misunderstandings.
Point of View
However mistaken, found a ready audience precisely because renaming controversies in Delhi carry real political charge. The NDMC's Anupam Colony programme is a genuinely useful sustainability model, but if the body cannot distinguish its messaging between 'certification' and 'renaming', it will keep firefighting misconceptions instead of building public buy-in for what is, by any measure, a creditable urban waste initiative.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NDMC's Anupam Colony tag?
The Anupam Colony tag is a sustainability and cleanliness certification awarded by the New Delhi Municipal Council to residential colonies that achieve 100 per cent waste segregation, on-site composting, mechanised cleaning, and zero landfill waste. It does not change the colony's official name.
Is Jor Bagh Colony being renamed to Anupam Colony?
No. NDMC V-C Kuljeet Singh Chahal explicitly clarified that Jor Bagh's official name remains unchanged. The 'Anupam Colony' designation is a certification tag, not a renaming, and several other Delhi colonies already carry the same tag.
Why did Priyanka Chaturvedi raise an objection?
Chaturvedi shared an NDMC event invite on social media and interpreted the phrase 'declaration of Jor Bagh colony as Anupam Colony' as an attempt to rename the upscale neighbourhood. Chahal responded directly on X, calling it a complete misunderstanding of the initiative.
Which other colonies have received the Anupam Colony certification?
New Moti Bagh, Kaka Nagar, Bapu Dham, and Aradhana Cooperative Housing Society have already received the Anupam Colony tag from the NDMC, according to Chahal's clarification.
What does a colony need to do to get the Anupam Colony tag?
A colony must achieve 100 per cent waste segregation at source, process wet and horticultural waste on-site via composting units, use mechanised dust-free cleaning systems, and ensure zero waste is sent to landfills. The NDMC describes it as a model for decentralised waste management.
