Malhotra blames CM for poor state of Yamuna on Chhat puja eve

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi Assembly polls, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, today rued the pitiable state of the Yamuna river in the capital and held the Sheila Dikshit government responsible for its ''criminal'' neglect.

While conveying his best wishes to people on the occasion of Chhath Puja, Prof Malhotra cautioned them that before stepping into the waters of this holy river, they should be aware of the risks involved.

He said countless people hailing from UP, Bihar and other states settled in the capital would perform their puja on the banks of the Yamuna. ''But the river which was once the lifeline of Delhi is now full of stink, garbage and effluents and it is because the Congress government has been turning a blind eye to the preservation of the purity of the Yamuna waters,'' he alleged.

Although the Delhi Government has spent to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore purportedly for cleaning of the river Yamuna, yet the results are nil and the position has turned from bad to worse, he said.

As the Delhi Jal Board has been under the direct control of the Chief Minister, her government cannot escape the responsibility of this criminal neglect, he alleged.

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