New Delhi, July 25 -- The Delhi government on Friday deployed two long-boom amphibious excavators to remove decades-old accumulated silt from the Ghazipur drain, with Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department officials saying the specialised machines will help restore the carrying capacity of one of the Capital's major drainage channels.

Water and I&FC minister Parvesh Verma launched the machines at the Ghazipur drain near Dallupura village. Officials said the drain carries water from Noida, Sahibabad, Chilla and adjoining industrial areas before entering Delhi, making it a key component of the city's drainage network.

According to I&FC officials, the excavators are designed to operate on dry land, marshy terrain and in shallow wat...