Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor on Sunday released a video depicting what he described as the ‘hellish conditions’ faced by residents under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The video highlighted significant issues including overflowing sewers, unreliable electricity supply, inadequate water access, and heaps of garbage throughout various regions of the national capital.
In reaction to the video, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor for drawing attention to these concerns and assured that the government would take corrective measures.
The footage shared by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena included scenes from his visits to the impacted areas, with one visit taking place the day before. He called on the Delhi government to tackle these “hellish conditions” and emphasized the need to prioritize essential services for the local population.
The Lieutenant Governor conveyed his distress at observing the dire situation of many residents, noting that each incident was detailed in tweets. He remarked that the filthy water visible on the streets was the result of overflowing sewers, not rainfall. Additionally, he mentioned that the suffering women he encountered were from Delhi, asserting that their plight was not a problem imported from elsewhere.
Saxena pointed out deficiencies in the drainage systems within the visited areas, citing narrow streets clogged with silt and dirty water. He said that poor road conditions, inconsistent electricity supply, and a critical shortage of water, which forced women to rely on infrequent tanker deliveries, occurring approximately every week.
He reassured the residents that essential services would soon be made available and announced the commencement of a cleaning initiative on Monday. Furthermore, he pledged to oversee the progress personally to ensure the community receives the necessary amenities for a decent quality of life.
“I urge the former Chief Minister, the current Chief Minister, and the relevant Ministers of the Delhi Government to visit these neighborhoods and experience these hellish conditions firsthand. Immediate action must be taken to alleviate this dire situation,” the Lieutenant Governor urged.
Kejriwal, who held the position of Chief Minister until September, expressed his appreciation to the Lieutenant Governor for emphasizing the civic issues and stated that the ongoing government, now led by Chief Minister Atishi, would address them.
“I thank the Lieutenant Governor profoundly for highlighting our shortcomings, and we commit to rectifying them,” he said. He added that work had started on the roads he had previously indicated were in disrepair and mentioned that Chief Minister Atishi would soon inaugurate these improvements. Kejriwal pledged that all areas highlighted by the Lieutenant Governor would be cleaned promptly, affirming a commitment to resolve any shortcomings that were brought to their attention.