However, she cautioned that reviving the river and tackling Delhi's pollution “is not a one-day job.”

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta: No ‘Magic Wand’ for Pollution, Government Acts on Yamuna Cleanup and Dust Control

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta At the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025, he said that Delhi’s air pollution crisis is a “legacy problem” and stressed that there is no “magic wand” for quick results. She acknowledged that smog and degraded air quality are consequences of long-term issues such as population growth and surges in vehicles over decades. Gupta highlighted that quick fixes aren’t feasible and said, “We cannot do something like a lockdown in a city like Delhi.” She said that her government is working “every day” to tackle pollution.

Gupta listed corrective measures taken in the past ten months by her administration and said the government has moved “at high speed” as compared to previous regimes. She talked about the measures such as distribution of heaters to discourage wood-burning, operation of sprinklers and dust-control measures, and large-scale action to clean the Yamuna River, which she described as a major ongoing project. She rejected accusations about the government artificially lowering the Air Quality Index by spraying water only around monitoring stations. She also denied reports of a “fake pond” being constructed next to the Yamuna during the recent Chhath festival to give the illusion of river cleanliness.

Gupta said that draining, sewage treatment, and pollution-control efforts are being taken “on a war footing” on the Yamuna cleanup. However, she cautioned that reviving the river and tackling Delhi’s pollution “is not a one-day job.”

Gupta also questioned the record of previous administrations under the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress and asked, “What did they do?” before listing the current government’s initiatives.

Gupta’s statements highlighted a multipronged approach combining dust control, waste management, anti-burn curbs, river rejuvenation, and infrastructural reforms. Her comments implicitly acknowledged that visible improvement in Delhi’s pollution may take considerable time. The CM’s remarks at the summit provide an official articulation of her government’s strategy and intent. Whether these measures bring relief to Delhi residents is yet to be seen.

Source: Hindustan Times