The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, 16th March 2025: Desilting and dredging efforts of the Barapulla, Sunehri & Kushak drains that had been started in mission mode by Lt Governor, Shri VK Saxena, last monsoons after severe flooding and related complaints by residents, received major fillip today, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh accompanying the LG to take stock of the works and reviewing the way forward.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and with the guidance of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri V.K. Saxena and Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, the Delhi government is taking bold and decisive steps to modernize the city’s drainage system and rejuvenate the Yamuna.
Addressing long-standing issues of waterlogging, pollution, and inefficient drainage, the government has rolled out a comprehensive action plan focused on regular cleaning, desilting, and redevelopment of major drains, while also integrating Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to prevent untreated waste from entering the Yamuna. Advanced technology, inter-agency coordination, and strict monitoring are being leveraged to make this mission a success.
On this occasion, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Shri VK Saxena, stated that to completely eliminate the problem of waterlogging in Delhi, MCD, PWD, DUSIB, and all other relevant departments have been directed to clean and improve the drainage system in a time-bound manner before the monsoon. Any delay or negligence will not be tolerated.
“Our priority is to ensure that there is no waterlogging on Delhi’s roads this year, allowing citizens to commute without any disruptions. All agencies have been instructed to work in coordination and ensure regular monitoring,” he added.
After reviewing the situation, Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta addressed the press and said, “The Delhi government is working with full seriousness to ensure that the city’s residents do not face waterlogging issues during the monsoon. Clear instructions have been given to all relevant departments to work in coordination and complete the cleaning and improvement of the drainage system within the stipulated time frame. Our commitment is to make the drainage system fully functional before the monsoon so that water does not accumulate on Delhi’s roads and the public does not face any inconvenience.”
She further explained that until the major drains of the city are thoroughly cleaned and their water-carrying capacity is increased, the issue of waterlogging will persist. The government conducted inspections of six major drains, including the Barapula and Sunehri Pul drains. During the inspection, it was observed that lack of coordination among agencies was a key reason for waterlogging issues. To address this challenge, the Delhi government has assigned the Flood and Irrigation Department a special responsibility to ensure timely desilting of drains. A dedicated budget has been allocated, and a strict timeline has been set to complete this work efficiently.
The Chief Minister assured that all major drains in Delhi will be cleaned before the onset of the monsoon to prevent waterlogging during heavy rains. Additionally, a large-scale mission has been launched to clean smaller drains along roads, with the government making this a priority task.
To ensure effective execution, ministers have been assigned different projects, and MLAs have been tasked with monitoring ongoing work in their respective constituencies. The Chief Minister emphasized that this will not be just a paperwork formality—feedback will be collected from residents and legislators to verify whether the desilting work has been properly executed.
She reiterated that the government’s top priority is to prevent waterlogging and overflowing drains across the city. The Delhi government is fully committed to making the city cleaner, more beautiful, and free from waterlogging issues.
To assess the current state of major drainage channels and identify critical areas for improvement conducted an extensive inspection across key locations in Delhi. The visit covered:
– Barapulla Drain at Outer Ring Road
– Barapulla Bridge
– Sunheri Pul Drain near Clover Leaf Flyover
– Barapulla Drain & Outfall of Sunheri Pul Drain at Lala Lajpat Rai Marg
– Kushak Drain near Lala Lajpat Rai Bridge
– Covered portions of Sunheri Pul Drain at DTC Bus Depot & Dayal Singh College
PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment, stating:“Transforming Delhi into a cleaner, flood-free city with a rejuvenated Yamuna is our top priority. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra modi, and with the support of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri V.K. Saxena and Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, we are taking concrete steps to modernize Delhi’s drainage system and restore the Yamuna to its pristine state.” “Our commitment to a ‘Swachh and Viksit Delhi’ is unwavering. A clean Yamuna, an efficient drainage network, and a pollution-free city are no longer just aspirations – they are becoming reality.”
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