Delhi Chief Minister Launches Cleanliness Drive to Combat Waste
Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has launched a significant cleanliness campaign aimed at addressing the city's waste issues. During the event at the Women and Child Development office, she criticized the previous AAP government for its failure to improve conditions and highlighted the dire state of the office facilities. Gupta also accused the former administration of misallocating funds, spending lavishly on a glass palace instead of necessary repairs. She pledged to create new office spaces for all departments to foster a better working environment. This initiative marks the beginning of a new sector development plan in Delhi, aiming to enhance operational efficiency across government departments.
Aug 1, 2025, 12:46 IST
Initiation of the Cleanliness Campaign
Today, Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the 'Freedom from Garbage' campaign at the Women and Child Development (WCD) office located at ISBT Kashmiri Gate. During the event, she actively participated in the cleanliness drive, clearing heaps of waste. Speaking to reporters, Gupta criticized the previous AAP government for failing to improve the city's conditions despite their claims. She expressed her deep concern, stating, 'I am in so much pain that I cannot even describe it. These are the offices that claim to improve Delhi's systems. Given the state of past governments, how can our officials help anyone when water is leaking everywhere.'
Concerns Over Office Conditions
Gupta further highlighted that the building had suffered a fire in 2021, yet it had neither been repaired nor cleaned since then. She questioned, 'Are these officials here to risk their lives?' Reflecting on her first visit to the WCD office, she remarked, 'I am here for the first time, but I am deeply saddened to see the deplorable conditions of such important committees/departments, where there are no cabinets for documents, no chairs, and one cannot predict when a fan might fall from above. Cleanliness is something we can achieve. If everyone participates, it will be accomplished. However, it is truly disheartening to see our officials working in such poor conditions.'
Criticism of Previous Government Spending
She accused the previous AAP government of spending ₹70 crores on building a glass palace while neglecting office improvements. Gupta stated, 'They (AAP) did not have time to invest in office repairs, but they had ₹70 crores to build a glass palace. If they had invested ₹2-4 crores here, at least some offices could have performed better.' The Chief Minister also assured that she would ensure the construction of new offices for all departments, creating a conducive work environment and providing adequate workplaces for effective functioning.
Plans for New Sector Development
She added, 'A completely new sector should be created in Delhi where every department can have space. We will start this process today. We will find a location for our new sector in Delhi... where all our departments can be situated. Despite the current poor conditions, we will not spare our officials and will assist them.'