Main challenges in drainage master plan: Outdated infra, encroachments

With an estimated budget of ₹57K crore, plan aims to address issues over the next 30 years

- ANUP VERMA @ New Delhi

THE Delhi government's newly launched Drainage Master Plan, aimed at addressing the city's waterlogging and sewage issues over the next three decades, faces significant hurdles.

With an estimated budget of ₹57,000 crore, the plan seeks to overhaul the city's outdated drainage infrastructure. This comes nearly half a century after the last one was prepared in 1976. However, several entrenched challenges threaten to undermine its success.

The most pressing issue is the age and inadequacy of the city's existing drainage system. Built over 50 years ago, the current network has struggled to keep pace with rapid urbanisation, population growth and changing rainfall patterns.