Sat Dec 06 12:50:51 UTC 2025: News Article Summary:
Delhi CM Gupta Defends Yamuna Cleanup Efforts After Post-Festival Foam Returns
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is facing scrutiny after the Yamuna River was once again covered in toxic foam just weeks after the city government touted a successful cleanup effort for the Chhath festival. Gupta had promised a froth-free Yamuna for the festival, and the river did appear cleaner on October 28 when devotees offered prayers.
However, the reappearance of foam has drawn criticism. Gupta defends her government’s efforts, calling cleaning the Yamuna a “huge project” that cannot be completed overnight. She cites the numerous drains flowing into the river and ongoing work to upgrade them as factors contributing to the challenge.
Gupta explained that the foam is primarily concentrated near the Okhla barrage, where water falls from a height and mixes with industrial effluents. While an anti-surfactant was used temporarily before the Chhath festival, she ruled out its prolonged use. Gupta emphasized that a long-term solution requires addressing industrial effluents flowing into the river.
She also dismissed allegations from the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that the BJP government supplied filtered water during the festival to create the appearance of a clean river. Gupta also stated that Delhi’s pollution is a legacy problem that will take time to fix.
First Piper 