CM: Will develop riverfront along Najafgarh drain

New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday said a riverfront project would be developed along the Sahibi river, also known as the Najafgarh drain. She added that the irrigation and flood control department would also develop a park on 50 acres of land in Uttam Nagar's Vipin Garden, which was neglected and encroached upon for years. The announcement was made during Gupta's inspection of several ongoing projects to clean the Yamuna. She was accompanied by lieutenant governor VK Saxena and water minister Parvesh Verma, apart from officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Jal Board and departments of public works, transport, and irrigation and flood control."This land holds immense potential for the community and has long been left in a deplorable condition. We are now committed to converting it into a lush, accessible green space," Gupta said.CM inspected the desilting work at the supplementary drain in Wazirabad, and Barapullah, Sunheri Pul and Kushak drains. Govt said the primary objective of the inspection was to evaluate the current status of the desilting of major drains, identify the causes of waterlogging, and ensure the completion of cleaning and repair work before the monsoon.Talking to reporters, CM said the work to desilt 22 drains that fall directly into the Yamuna was going on in full swing using advanced machinery. Gupta said desilting of drains was not just a technical process, but a comprehensive effort to purify the Yamuna and restore its ecological equilibrium. "The progress observed today compared to the previous inspection is commendable — modern machinery is operating efficiently for desilting in the drains. Govt's objective is to ensure that water flows naturally through the drains, free from obstructions. When it enters the Yamuna, it should be free from pollution, thereby facilitating the restoration of the river to its pristine state," she said, adding that the inspection of the drains was being conducted every 15 days to ensure timely progress and quality control.Gupta also accused the previous govt of failing to comprehend the necessity of assessing the ground situation of the drains. She alleged that the decisions were made from airconditioned offices. "Our govt has resolved to monitor the Yamuna cleaning efforts at the ground level, personally overseeing the work at the drain sites. Drain cleaning is not just a pre-monsoon formality. It is about safeguarding public health and urban infrastructure," she asserted.Following the inspection, LG said the problem of waterlogging in the capital was not just confined to the monsoon. "It is a critical issue affecting the fundamental infrastructure and quality of life in the city. Today's joint inspection of the capital's drains in collaboration with various departments is not merely to identify problems, but also to ensure time-bound, coordinated and permanent solutions," Saxena said. "Officers of all departments concerned have been directed to work with mutual cooperation and transparency to provide Delhi residents with a clean, safe and waterlogging-free environment," he added.