The clash centers on the defoaming chemicals used to dissipate the Yamuna's notorious froth. (Image: Delhi Gov)
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s inspection of the Yamuna riverbank at Kalindi Kunj on Thursday was meant to showcase a cleaner river ahead of the crucial Chhath Puja. However, the visit swiftly ignited a sharp political confrontation with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), turning a environmental review into a heated debate over the use of defoaming chemicals in the water.
During her visit, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta declared that, for the first time in recent years, no froth was visible on the river's surface. She credited this improvement to the Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) sustained efforts in desilting and pollution control. To substantiate her claims, she examined real-time water quality data at an on-site laboratory. Gupta presented specific metrics, stating, “The dissolved oxygen (DO) level has reached 4.0 milligrams per litre, sufficient for aquatic life. Phosphate levels have dropped to 0.2, far below the threshold of 2.0 at which froth begins to form.”
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The opposition AAP quickly and sharply responded to the Chief Minister's comments. The charge was spearheaded by AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj, who charged the BJP-led administration with egregious hypocrisy. He recalled that in 2022, current Water Minister Parvesh Verma had publicly criticized and bullied a DJB officer for using the same type of defoamer, falsely labeling it as "poison." Bharadwaj questioned the use of a drug that a BJP minister had previously referred to as "poison" in their own government.
The clash centers on the defoaming chemicals used to dissipate the Yamuna's notorious froth. The AAP’s accusation is twofold. First, they allege a stark reversal in the BJP's stance on the safety of these chemicals. Second, they claim that during the previous AAP government's tenure, the BJP deliberately stalled Yamuna cleaning efforts "to prevent Purvanchalis from celebrating Chhath Puja." In response, BJP minister Kapil Mishra defended the current measures, stating their efforts are "guided by devotion and science, not politics," and insisted that only certified, eco-safe defoamers are being used.
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Amid the political crossfire, the Chief Minister sought to assure the public, particularly Chhath devotees, about the river's condition. She firmly dismissed what she called "misleading narratives" being spread with old videos. Gupta claimed that the Yamuna is noticeably cleaner and asked the public to see the situation for themselves. In order to help prevent foam formation, officials also disclosed that they had worked with the Uttar Pradesh government to lower water flow from the UP canal in addition to using defoamers.
