Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday, 28 June led volunteers, social organisations, and residents in a cleanliness drive at Yamuna Ghat in Chilla village as part of the 'Clean Delhi with CM' campaign. The initiative underscores the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government's push to frame Yamuna rejuvenation as a public movement rather than a purely administrative exercise.

What the Campaign Involved

Chief Minister Gupta participated alongside volunteers and young environmentalists, interacting directly with participants during the drive. Volunteers informed her that plastic waste collected during the campaign could be recycled into benches, dustbins, and other utility products for schools and environmental conservation purposes. Gupta appreciated the idea and said the Delhi government would extend 'all possible support' to such circular economy-based innovations.

What the Chief Minister Said

Addressing participants, Gupta described the Yamuna as 'not merely a river but Delhi's memory, culture and lifeline.' She said that restoring the river to a clean and pristine state is a shared responsibility of both the government and citizens, and urged residents not to immerse puja materials, plastic, construction debris, or any other waste into the river. She called on the public to actively contribute to making cleanliness a people's movement.

Gupta credited public participation as the 'greatest strength' of the initiative, adding that joint efforts of the government and society would give fresh momentum to building a 'clean, green and developed capital.'

Government's Yamuna Rejuvenation Measures

The Chief Minister outlined the Delhi government's ongoing infrastructure push for the river's revival. This includes the rapid modernisation of existing sewage treatment plants, setting up new decentralised sewage treatment plants, expanding the sewer network, and tapping all drains flowing into the Yamuna in a phased manner. Officials described these as part of a 'scientific, sustainable and comprehensive' rejuvenation plan.

Notably, a young environmental activist at the event told Gupta that he had joined the Yamuna conservation campaign after being inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan — signalling a deliberate effort to link the Delhi government's campaign with the national cleanliness movement.

Broader Context

The Yamuna has long been among India's most polluted urban rivers, with successive Delhi governments — across party lines — promising revival and delivering mixed results. The BJP's return to power in Delhi has renewed focus on the river, with the 'Clean Delhi with CM' campaign positioning citizen participation as central to any lasting solution. This comes amid ongoing scrutiny of sewage infrastructure gaps and the river's deteriorating water quality, particularly ahead of monsoon season.

As the campaign gains ground, the government's credibility will hinge on measurable improvements to the river's condition — not just the optics of clean ghats.