The Delhi government disclosed that no desilting operations have been conducted on the Yamuna River in recent years. This revelation has raised concerns about the river’s health and its capacity to handle flood situations. While the state government’s reply mentioned ‘maintenance work’ on specific sections of the river, it did not address the critical issue of desilting.
An RTI activist had sought details on the last year desilting was carried out by the state’s Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) department and the associated expenditure. The reply was stark: “No desilting has been done in the river Yamuna over the past few years.” It further clarified that the stretch from Old Railway Bridge to Kalindi Kunj Bridge falls under the jurisdiction of civil division 3, where only maintenance work had been executed. The RTI query also requested information on the total volume of silt removed from the river in Delhi, but this was met with no response. The absence of desilting efforts has led to significant concerns regarding the river’s ability to manage exigencies like floods. The accumulation of silt can impede water flow, adversely affecting the river’s ecosystem and its capacity to support aquatic life. This neglect may have exacerbated the impact of last year’s floods by obstructing the river’s flow.
“The Yamuna is in a dire state, and the failure to clear silt is alarming. Removing garbage, mud, and waste from the river is essential for its health, but it seems the Delhi government is not prioritising this issue,” commented an official. Another official highlighted that bridge construction agencies have been directed to remove detritus such as wood, construction materials, and C&D waste from the river’s course. “Following the Delhi High Court’s directive in April, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is now monitoring this process,” the official added.
The lack of desilting has broader implications for Delhi’s environmental management and flood preparedness. Effective desilting is crucial for maintaining the river’s flow and preventing flood risks, particularly during the monsoon season. The current state of the Yamuna underscores the need for a more proactive and comprehensive approach to river management. The ongoing neglect of desilting operations not only threatens the ecological balance of the Yamuna but also jeopardises the safety and well-being of the communities that depend on the river. The Delhi government’s approach to river maintenance must shift towards more sustainable and long-term solutions to ensure the health and resilience of the Yamuna.
