Amphibious machines to clean drains: Delhi CM
New Delhi, March 13
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday launched new state-of-the-art amphibious excavator machines at Badusarai Bridge, Najafgarh Drain and Pankha Road Drain to strengthen the cleaning of the city's drainage network.
These machines will significantly speed up and improve desilting operations, removal of garbage, and clearing of water hyacinth from the drains, said an official statement, adding that the move is expected to improve water drainage capacity and help reduce waterlogging during the monsoon season.
The Chief Minister said the Delhi government is using modern technology with full commitment to clean the city's drains and restore the Yamuna River.
The event was attended by Delhi Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh and Ashish Sood, along with senior officials of the concerned departments.
The Chief Minister noted that the Najafgarh Drain is the largest in Delhi and carries nearly 75 per cent of the silt from the city's drainage system.
She said that removing the massive volume of silt accumulated over the years was earlier considered an extremely difficult task.
However, with the deployment of these modern floating machines, it has now become possible. These machines can reach the middle of the drain and remove silt directly, accelerating the process of clearing long-accumulated sludge, she said.
According to estimates, more than 10 million metric tonnes of silt have accumulated in the Najafgarh Drain.
The newly deployed amphibious machines will be used to remove this massive buildup. The Delhi government has also decided to procure more amphibious machines.
One machine had already been brought earlier, while four new machines were flagged off on Friday. The remaining machines will be handed over to the department soon.
The Chief Minister added that the Delhi government is now carrying out desilting work throughout the year, instead of limiting it to the period before the monsoon. This approach aims to more effectively prevent waterlogging during the rainy season.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but the real test will be the next monsoon. We hear about new machines and plans every year, yet waterlogging remains a nightmare. Year-round desilting is a smart move though. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Technology is the way forward. Using amphibious excavators is a clever solution for a problem that seemed impossible. Cleaning the Yamuna starts with its tributaries and drains. This is a positive step if executed well.
As someone who lives near Pankha Road, the stench from the clogged drain is unbearable in summer. If this reduces the garbage and hyacinth, it will improve public health and our quality of life immensely. Thank you for addressing this.
The scale of the problem is huge—10 million metric tonnes! One has to appreciate the effort. However, I respectfully question if just machines are enough. What about stopping the dumping of waste and sewage into these drains in the first place? That's the root cause.
Hope this brings some relief. Every year, commuting becomes a horror show during rains. Investing in such infrastructure is always better than temporary fixes. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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