Sewage mixing with storm water at over 2,300 points

Civic and land-owning bodies have identified over 2,300 points across Delhi where untreated sewage is mixing with stormwater drains or stormwater is intruding into sewage lines, causing frequent overflows and contamination of public spaces, according to a government review shared during a high-level meeting chaired by the Delhi chief secretary on June 3.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

NEW DELHI: With just days to go before the monsoon hits Delhi, half of the city's key drains—including major ones such as the Najafgarh, Shahdara, and Barapulla—remain only partially desilted, raising concerns of waterlogging and urban flooding. Civic agencies are now racing against time to complete this annual maintenance task before monsoon rains arrive.

At a high-level review meeting chaired by Delhi's chief secretary on June 3, officials disclosed that only 12 of the 24 major drains had been fully desilted by May 30. These include smaller stormwater channels like the Tonga Stand drain (0.49km), Sweeper Colony drain (0.38km), Civil Military drain (1.09km), Khyber Pass drain (1.15km), and the Shastri Park drain (0.68km).

Larger and more critical drains, however, continue to lag far behind. The Najafgarh drain, which stretches over 57.13 km and serves as Delhi's principal stormwater artery, has only seen 46.3% of its length cleared. The Shahdara drain (5.90km) stands at 64%, and the Barapulla drain (4.22km) at 92.5%. The May 31 deadline for desilting has already passed.

Experts warn that delay in clearing the major drains could lead to widespread waterlogging. "If not cleared on time, silt obstructs the natural flow, causing water to back up and flood roads, underpasses and colonies," a government official said.