The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has announced a new deadline for completing the desilting of drains within its jurisdiction, pushing the completion date to June 30. This extension, part of the DDA’s monsoon preparedness strategy, aims to ensure that the city’s drainage system is ready to handle the forthcoming rainy season.
As part of the preparedness measures, DDA plans to establish central and zonal flood control rooms, which will operate continuously throughout the monsoon period. According to an official statement, these control rooms will be equipped with fixed pumps at critical locations and truck-mounted pumps with operators to manage any flooding incidents effectively. DDA oversees the maintenance of approximately 300 km of roadside drains. To avoid delays, the authority obtained permission from the Environment Committee (EC) and issued short-term notices inviting agencies to undertake desilting work. “Last month, we invited bids for cleaning drains in Sarita Vihar, including areas along the metro line, pockets 9B and 9A, the sports complex, and Jasola district centre,” said an official.
In parallel, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has successfully completed 80% of its phase I desilting target, with a completion deadline set for June 15. For the fiscal year 2024-25, MCD aims to remove 1,27,736 metric tonnes of waste from 713 large drains spanning 466 km. Thus far, 76 drains have been desilted, with ongoing work on another 602. By mid-June, it is expected that 78,179.8 metric tonnes of waste will be removed in phase I, with an additional 49,556 metric tonnes targeted by March-end in phase II. As of June 3, 62,999 metric tonnes had been cleared.
The civic body also aims to desilt 20,884 small drains covering 6,657 km, with a target of removing 82,642 metric tonnes of silt. This year, for the first time, the desilting plan includes unauthorised colonies. Most of the desilting work for large drains is being outsourced, with MCD’s engineering department closely monitoring progress to ensure timely completion before the monsoon. “Agencies are employing excavators and machines to remove silt, which is then dried and transported to sanitary landfills. For smaller drains, daily clearance of material has been mandated,” said an official. Additionally, a nodal officer has been assigned to each drain to address any waterlogging issues promptly.
However, the civic body has raised concerns with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and other departments regarding the disposal of sewer connections into drains. “Post-desilting, some drains are quickly clogged again due to continuous sewer flow. Establishing centralised sewer treatment plants in such cases is ineffective, as the disposal of sewage into drains also results in foul odours,” noted the official.
To combat potential monsoon challenges, temporary pumps will be deployed. Staff at all 72 permanent pumping stations will be on duty around the clock during the rainy season. Teams equipped with adequate pumps will be formed to address waterlogging issues in various areas.
Control rooms will be operational in all 12 zones and at the headquarters, ensuring a prompt response to complaints and timely resolution of issues throughout the monsoon season. This comprehensive approach underscores the authorities’ commitment to mitigating the impact of heavy rains on Delhi’s urban infrastructure.
