NGT Tracks Delhi's Desilting Progress Amid Monsoon Concerns
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken note of a submission from Delhi's Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department, which asserts that the desilting of 77 critical drains across the city will be fully completed before the onset of the monsoon season, with a firm deadline set for May 31. However, as of April 1, the department reported that only approximately 30.4% of the desilting work has been accomplished, prompting judicial oversight and scheduled updates.
Judicial Oversight and Timeline Adherence
A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava directed the I&FC department to file a further progress report by the next hearing date on May 21. The bench emphasized that the timeline must be strictly adhered to, with the entire desilting operation targeted for completion by May 31, 2026. This intervention follows the NGT's suo motu cognisance of a May 5, 2025, article from The Times of India, titled "Deadline Looming: MCD Met Just 21% of Desilting Target By End of April," which highlighted significant delays in meeting desilting targets.
Progress Reports and Specific Drain Status
According to a status report shared on March 18, about 23% of the desilting work had been completed at that time. The overall plan involves removing a total of 28,57,464 metric tonnes (MT) of silt from the 77 drains by the end of May. Detailed progress figures reveal disparities among key drains: the Shahdara drain has achieved 35.5% desilting, while the Barapullah drain lags significantly at only 4.8%. The Najafgarh drain, being desilted in five segments, shows progress percentages of 5.9% and 20.9% for two segments, with work on the remaining three segments yet to commence.
Historical Context and Waterlogging Risks
Delhi typically experiences its first monsoon showers around June 27, with early arrivals like June 25 in 2023 exacerbating waterlogging issues. That year, a record 228 mm of rainfall within 24 hours on June 28 led to severe flooding across the city, including affluent areas like Lutyens' Delhi and several south Delhi neighborhoods. The inundation forced emergency teams to conduct large-scale pumping operations, resulted in water entering homes and shops, and was linked to at least 50 rain-related fatalities during the season. Delays in drain clearance often cause waterlogging as silt obstructs natural water flow, flooding roads, underpasses, and residential colonies.
Environmental Impact and Wastewater Contributions
Data submitted to an NGT-appointed committee in January 2023 underscored the environmental stakes, showing that the Najafgarh drain alone accounts for nearly 69% of all wastewater reaching the Yamuna River. The Shahdara and Barapullah drains contribute 10.9% and 3.15%, respectively, highlighting the critical need for effective desilting to mitigate pollution and flooding risks.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Initiatives and Challenges
In parallel, the MCD has set ambitious targets for desilting approximately 800 drains deeper than four feet, aiming to remove 2.2 lakh metric tonnes of silt with a budget allocation of Rs 36 crore. Despite a directive from the MCD commissioner in February to issue work orders promptly, tendering processes remain pending for 90 out of 296 works, with the highest delays in the Najafgarh zone (37 tenders) and West zone (20 tenders). Other zones with pending tenders include South and Karol Bagh (10 each), Central (6), Shahdara South (4), Shahdara North (2), and City–Sadar Paharganj (1). Officials have issued instructions to deputy commissioners and chief engineers to complete the tendering within a week, noting that these works are stalled at various administrative levels.
Phased Desilting and Public Engagement Measures
The MCD plans to conduct desilting in two phases for deep drains: pre-monsoon by June 15 (Phase I) and post-monsoon by December 31 (Phase II). Additionally, 12,892 shallower drains with a combined length of 6,069.8 km will be desilted year-round. To enhance efficiency and accountability, new norms mandate that silt must be removed from drain sides within three to five days, with debris not allowed to remain on roadsides for more than seven days. All waste will be transported exclusively to designated landfill sites at Okhla, Bhalswa, Singhola, and Ghazipur, supported by proper documentation including before-and-after photographs or videos. To foster public participation, the civic body has designated specific days for citizen feedback and complaints, which can also be registered via MCD's toll-free number 311.
