Congress Pledges Clean Delhi, Blames Kejriwal For Yamuna Crisis

New Delhi, January 31, 2025: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has accused AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of “criminal negligence” in failing to clean up the Yamuna, despite spending ₹8,500 crore on river restoration. Rawat claimed that Kejriwal’s inaction had left the river highly toxic.

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Speaking at a press conference at the DPCC office, Rawat recalled that the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government had proposed a master drain project in 2013 to divert and treat sewage before it entered the Yamuna. The plan, approved under the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government, was to be jointly funded by Delhi, Haryana, and the Centre, with land contributions from UP and Rajasthan. However, both the Kejriwal-led AAP government and the BJP-led Centre failed to implement it.

Rawat highlighted Delhi’s worsening pollution, stating that 35.1% of the city’s solid waste remains untreated, with thousands of tonnes dumped at landfill sites. He criticised both AAP and BJP for failing to provide clean air, water, and land, noting that the city’s green cover has shrunk by 35%.

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The Congress manifesto for the Delhi Assembly elections promises measures to combat pollution, including the creation of decentralised sewage treatment plants and covering of drains to prevent waste dumping. Rawat urged voters to elect Congress and oust Kejriwal’s AAP and the BJP, accusing them of ruining Delhi’s civic infrastructure.