Every monsoon, the same story: Drainage neglect continues to fuel Delhi's flood woes

Drainage cannot be treated like a routine project; it is a safety mechanism. Allocated funds should be treated as urgent expenditure, not an afterthought

- AIMAN FATIMA

NEW DELHI: The Yamuna's water level crossing the 207-metre danger mark this week has once again left thousands of Delhi residents battling floodwaters, even as government data reveals that departments responsible for flood control have barely used their funds.

According to the latest capital expenditure status report, the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, which maintains Delhi's three largest drains at Najafgarh, Trans-Yamuna Basin, and Wazirabad, has spent only 14 percent of its Rs.313 crore budget for 2025-26. These drains are designed to carry excess water and reduce the risk of flooding during peak monsoon, but their limited upkeep has been flagged repeatedly in government reviews.