India, April 24 -- With the monsoon season approaching, the Delhi government has intensified flood prevention measures, with the Irrigation and Flood Control Department achieving over 57 per cent of its desilting target across major drains to curb waterlogging and urban flooding. According to official data, desilting work across 76 drains has reached 57.68 per cent completion, with more than 16.48 lakh cubic metres of silt removed against a total target of 28.57 lakh cubic metres. The progress is particularly notable in 21 priority drains, where work has crossed 76 per cent, indicating near readiness ahead of the rains. The Najafgarh drain system, one of the city's most flood-prone areas, has recorded nearly 48 per cent completion, while the remaining 55 drains have achieved over 63 per cent progress. Officials said this year's approach focuses on simultaneous execution across zones, with vulnerable points identified from previous monsoons being prioritised.
Alongside desilting, the department is strengthening its machinery base through a Rs.94 crore procurement plan. A total of 38 specialised machines, including draglines, long-boom excavators, amphibious excavators and dredgers, are being deployed to improve efficiency, particularly in deep and waterlogged drains. So far, 12 machines have been procured, with additional orders placed. Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, who reviewed the preparedness, said, "Our priority is clear- before the monsoon arrives, every critical drain must be cleaned and functional. We are not leaving things for the last moment." He added, "The idea is to ensure that during heavy rainfall, water does not accumulate and disrupt daily life." Officials have also been directed to ensure proper disposal of silt and maintain real-time monitoring to complete the remaining work before peak monsoon.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.