NEW DELHI: The newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party-led Delhi Government is in active mode, working diligently to prepare the city for the upcoming monsoon. Every year, the National Capital faces severe disruptions during heavy rainfall, resulting in waterlogging across various areas. This not only slows down the city’s pace but also causes immense inconvenience to residents, with several people even losing their lives during last year’s monsoon season. To prevent such unfortunate incidents and ensure a smooth rainy season this year, the new government has taken swift action to ready Delhi for the monsoon.
As part of these proactive measures, Delhi’s PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has been conducting extensive inspections across the city, evaluating ongoing sanitation and drainage projects ahead of the summer and monsoon periods. The main purpose of these inspections is to assess the condition of Delhi’s primary drainage systems, identify the causes behind recurring waterlogging, and ensure that desilting and repair work is completed well before the onset of the monsoon. The Delhi Government has prioritized the desilting of 22 major drains, carrying out this critical task with dedication and urgency. This initiative is not just a technical necessity, but a comprehensive mission aimed at cleansing the Yamuna River and restoring its ecological balance. These major drains are now being reviewed every 15 days to guarantee that cleaning work is both prompt and of the highest quality. The government’s larger aim is to ensure unobstructed water flow through the drainage network so that when it reaches the Yamuna, it is clean and pollution-free, contributing to the rejuvenation of the river. All relevant department officials have been instructed to expedite their respective tasks, ensuring that drain desilting and cleaning operations are completed on time.
During one of his recent inspections, Minister Verma sternly reprimanded officials for their complacency, urging them to leave the comfort of their offices and directly engage with civic issues on the ground. According to an official statement from the Minister’s office, he visited various constituencies along with local MLAs to take stock of the situation. Expressing dissatisfaction over the stagnant development in many areas over the past decade, he ordered officials to start sewer cleaning operations without delay and to finish them before the onset of monsoon. He also announced the deployment of state-of-the-art sewer cleaning equipment, stating that each assembly constituency will be equipped with a dedicated sewer cleaning machine ahead of the monsoon season to improve solid waste and sewer management.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to infrastructure modernization, Verma declared, “Delhi’s infrastructure remains our top priority. Be it roads, sewage systems, or water bodies — we are implementing fast and effective solutions for the betterment of the city. Development will no longer remain confined to paperwork; it will be visible across every lane, every drain, and every road of Delhi.”
In a similar effort, the Delhi Government’s Home Department has taken a proactive step by constituting a Quick Response Team (QRT) to handle the pruning of tree branches and removal of fallen trees during the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds often lead to trees collapsing or branches falling, creating hazards for the public. To address this, the decision to form QRTs was taken during a meeting held on March 18, chaired by the Chief Secretary. These teams, comprising officials from the Revenue Department, NDMC, MCD, Forest Department, and power distribution companies (Discoms), will operate around the clock in three shifts under the supervision of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in each revenue district. The objective is to ensure timely action in managing tree-related hazards during the monsoon season.
Additionally, the Delhi Government is fast-tracking its initiatives to rejuvenate the Yamuna River. Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Cabinet Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh recently undertook joint inspections of the city’s major drains. CM Gupta reaffirmed that 22 significant drains flowing directly into the Yamuna are being desilted using advanced equipment. These drains will continue to be inspected every 15 days to monitor progress and ensure quality. She openly criticized the inaction of the previous administration, highlighting that decisions were made from air-conditioned offices without understanding ground realities. In contrast, her government is personally monitoring the progress on-site. She extended her gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor for his unwavering support and active involvement in the campaign. CM Gupta emphasized that these actions are part of a broader plan to make Delhi clean, flood-free, and safe. She concluded by asserting that drain cleaning is not just a pre-monsoon formality, but an essential measure to protect public health and preserve urban infrastructure.