Delhi government plans to revive Yamuna by dredging

NEW DELHI: Delhi govt is preparing to move National Green Tribunal seeking permission to dredge the Yamuna riverbed in the city. The decision has been taken as Delhi has faced urban flooding repeatedly and the Yamuna’s water-carrying capacity has shrunk here.Minister Parvesh Verma said the proposal was aimed at reviving the river’s natural flow, easing pressure on regulator drains and enhancing flood resilience of low-lying neighbourhoods along its banks.Dredging involves excavation of accumulated silt, sludge and solid waste from a waterbody. This is usually avoided in a river for concerns related to damaging the ecosystem and disturbing its banks. “Currently, the dredging of the Yamuna is prohibited. We are planning to approach NGT for approval. We are building our case with documentation regarding the need and commitment to follow all environmental norms. Once permission is granted, a detailed project report will be prepared. This will directly increase the carrying capacity of the river,” said Verma.The urgency of the proposal comes against the backdrop of this year’s flooding that pushed up the water level and triggered backflow into the city’s drainage channels. Several residential colonies near the floodplain, including those adjoining regulator drains, bore the brunt. Experts have often linked the crisis to the Yamuna’s reduced depth, aggravated by unchecked siltation and untreated sewage inflows.The river’s Delhi stretch is about 22km between Wazirabad and Okhla. Officials acknowledge that the ecological degradation of this critical stretch has complicated not just flood management but also the city’s drinking water supply.Parallel to the dredging proposal, Delhi Jal Board has been working on desilting projects to augment the raw water storage capacity. A plan to clean up the Wazirabad pond, which supplies water to one of the city’s largest treatment plants, had to be deferred due to the monsoon. The Wazirabad water treatment plant produces 138MGD, making it a crucial lifeline for the city. Officials believe that clearing the pond and dredging the Yamuna can together double the river’s current water-holding capacity. This could help mitigate flooding, improve raw water availability and ease stress on downstream regulators, they added.