In the podcast “Apni Dilli Apni Baat,” LG Saxena criticizes CM Arvind Kejriwal’s lack of awareness about the Najafgarh drain, calling it a major oversight in efforts to clean the Yamuna.
BY PC Bureau
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinay Kumar Saxena has raised serious concerns about the state of water supply and drainage systems in the city, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of neglect and mismanagement.
Speaking on the inaugural episode of the podcast series “Apni Dilli Apni Baat,” Saxena criticized the Delhi Jal Board for spending ₹28,000 crore in capital expenditure over the past seven years, claiming that the amount was sufficient to replace every pipeline in the city. Despite this, he said, the city continues to grapple with contaminated water, inadequate supply, and broken infrastructure.
These comments were made during the LG’s conversation with Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe in the podcast’s first episode. Future episodes will feature leaders such as Manoj Tiwari, Bansuri Swaraj, Kapil Mishra, and Kailash Gehlot, focusing on issues related to governance and voter education.
Unequal Water Distribution
Saxena highlighted the stark disparity in water distribution across the city. Affluent areas receive as much as 560 liters of water per person daily, while slum dwellers are left with only 20 liters. The situation is worsened by leakage in pipelines where sewage and drinking water mix, forcing residents to consume unsafe water.
Yamuna Pollution and Najafgarh Drain Mismanagement
The Lieutenant Governor also criticized the AAP government for its handling of the Yamuna River, which remains heavily polluted. He expressed dismay at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s reported lack of awareness about the 57-km-long Najafgarh drain, a major contributor to the river’s contamination.
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Blocked Drains and Poor Governance
Delhi’s drainage system is in disrepair, with some drains reportedly blocked for over a decade. Shri Saxena questioned how ₹28,000 crore in capital expenditure failed to resolve such basic issues, leaving many areas of the capital without clean water for days.
AAP Government Spending ₹600 Crore on Advertising: LG
Saxena highlighted the stark difference in advertising expenditure between the Sheila Dikshit government and the AAP government. Saxena pointed out that while Sheila Dikshit spent only ₹15-20 crore annually on promoting her government’s work, the AAP government is reportedly spending up to ₹600 crore.
On Central Interference?
When Vinay Sahasrabuddhe questioned the LG about the AAP government’s allegations that the central government hinders their work while corruption charges against them are revealed in court, Saxena responded:
“These kinds of allegations have always been made against the ruling party. However, Delhi is a Union Territory, which inherently involves a level of central government intervention. The structure has been transparent for a long time, with certain areas under the central government’s purview and others under the state government’s control. No changes have been made to this system by the current government.”
