CM calls for united fight against pollution

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday called for a collective and determined fight against pollution, urging citizens, corporates and government agencies to share responsibility. This comes amid deteriorating air quality that has led to widespread frustration in the national capital

Gupta said the Delhi’s campaign against pollution, termed “Pradushan ke viruddh Dilli ka yuddh”, required active participation from all stakeholders to yield meaningful results.

The CM announced a large-scale cleaning, road-washing and water-sprinkling drive across the Ring Road on Saturday. She said it was aimed at reducing road dust, one of the major contributors to particulate pollution in the city.

Gupta made the announcements at the Delhi Secretariat during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Public Works Department (PWD) and the GMR Group for a major road-beautification initiative.

As part of the agreement, GMR will take up the maintenance and beautification of the Azad Market–Inderlok corridor. The project, to be carried out through the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, will include jet cleaning, drip irrigation, landscaping, regular upkeep and greening of the stretch.

The three-year initiative is estimated to cost Rs 6 crore, and work has already begun, officials said.

The CM added that major companies have been brought on board under similar CSR partnerships to maintain and upgrade important corridors and flyovers. Key stretches earmarked for redevelopment include the Madhuban Chowk–Mukarba Chowk corridor, the Chirag Delhi, Panchsheel Club and IIT flyovers; the Punjabi Bagh flyover, Aurobindo Marg, Munirka Flyover, the Outer Ring Road section near Ram Mandir, the Netaji Subhash Place Flyover, the Oberoi–Lodhi Road Flyover and the Karampura Flyover.