Delhi's Yamuna River Chokes with Foam After Chhath Puja, CM Rekha Gupta Says 'It's Not a One-Day Job'

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had assured a froth-free Yamuna during the Chhath festival and delivered on that promise. On October 28, nearly ten months after taking office, she joined devotees on the riverbank where the water appeared visibly cleaner and free of foam.

In the days leading up to the festival, the government carried out a large scale cleanup drive and ministers inspected preparations to ensure a cleaner celebration.

Toxic Foam Reappears Weeks After Festival

Despite the temporary improvement, the river has once again been blanketed with toxic foam. Asked about the recurring problem, Gupta responded, "It is not a one day job."

"Cleaning the Yamuna is a huge project," she said while speaking at the HT Leadership Summit. She explained that nearly all major drains in the city empty into the river, which complicates cleanup efforts.

"It is not like it will be cleaned up immediately after taking a few steps. Almost all the drains in the city flow into the Yamuna. After our BJP government came to power, we started work on upgrading the old drains. Only after all this work is done, Yamuna can be considered clean. It is not a one day job," she said.

Why Foam Forms on the Yamuna

Gupta clarified that the froth does not cover the entire river. "The entire expanse of the river is not covered with foam. It is only the Okhla barrage area, where there is froth. The water there falls from an elevated point and since it is mixed with industrial effluents, it causes the froth."

Before Chhath, authorities sprayed anti surfactant on the river surface to disperse the foam. Gupta emphasised that such measures cannot be used regularly.

"During Chhath, we took extra steps to clean up the river as it was a matter of faith too. We cannot spray the water with the chemical," she said.

Targeting Industrial Pollution as a Long-Term Fix

Gupta stressed that the real solution lies in curbing industrial discharge. "There is also one solution to this. We need to address the issue of industrial effluents flowing into the river. We need to impose a ban on these things. Only then Yamuna be cleaned," she added.

She also rejected the allegation by the Aam Aadmi Party that the government used filtered water at Vasudev Ghat to create an illusion of clean water.

"The water in the enclosure was Yamuna water itself. And I do not care about what the opposition says," she asserted.

Pollution a Legacy Issue Without Quick Fixes

The Chief Minister concluded by noting that Delhi's pollution challenges have accumulated over decades. She said there is no "magic wand" that can produce instant results.