Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s Initiative: Clean Energy to Reach Delhi’s Slum Clusters

Expansion of Ujjwala Scheme to Prevent Pollution from Traditional Stoves and Coal-Fired Heaters

“Pollution Control Work Underway at a War Footing,” Says CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 2025 : In view of the rising pollution levels in the national capital, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has taken a significant step forward to ensure clean and sustainable living in Delhi’s slum clusters. The Chief Minister has directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to conduct a comprehensive survey across all slum areas to identify families still using traditional stoves or coal-fired heaters (angithis).

According to the Chief Minister, the government will extend the benefits of the Ujjwala Yojana to such families to help them transition to cleaner cooking fuel ensuring both household convenience and effective pollution control.

CM Rekha Gupta emphasised that her government is working on a war footing to curb pollution. Teams of officials are already on the ground, taking strict action against pollution sources and implementing targeted measures to clean identified hotspots. Based on the findings of the DUSIB survey, the government will prepare a list of families still dependent on traditional fuels and prioritise them for Ujjwala gas connections.

She noted that pollution control cannot be limited to industrial or vehicular sectors alone, it also requires strong intervention at the domestic level. Smoke emitted from stoves and coal burners in slum areas not only pollutes the air but also poses serious health hazards to residents.

The government’s goal, therefore, is to ensure that every household has access to clean fuel and that no one is forced to rely on traditional, polluting methods of cooking. Reaffirming that making Delhi pollution-free remains a top priority, the Chief Minister informed that maintenance vans have been deployed to clean roads and pavements, addressing dust and particulate pollution. Senior officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control Department, DUSIB, DSIIDC, and other key agencies along with representatives from MCD and NDMC are on the ground to ensure thorough cleaning of their respective zones.

She further directed all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and civic agencies to deploy every available sanitation resource for comprehensive cleanliness across the city. Concrete measures are being implemented to “cool and clear” pollution hotspots through continuous water sprinkling, mechanical dust suppression, and surface repair of roads and pavements to prevent dust dispersion.

Concluding her statement, the Chief Minister said that, in coordination with all civic agencies, the Delhi Government is working at a war footing across the city to bring pollution under control and ensure a cleaner, healthier capital for all.