Delhi authorities are struggling to dispose of large quantities of silt removed from drains ahead of the monsoon, as traditional methods have reached saturation and environmental risks mount.
As Delhi steps up desilting to prevent flooding, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has removed 30.91 lakh metric tonnes of silt this year from major and supplementary drains. This figure exceeds last year's total of around 19 lakh metric tonnes. The Public Works Department has completed desilting of nearly 90 percent of its 2,125.87 km drain network.
Officials note that much of the silt from 25 mixed-flow drains contains municipal waste and contaminants. Conventional disposal options, including landfills and embankment strengthening, are now saturated. The department oversees 77 drains, of which 22 empty into the Yamuna River.
The I&FC Department has invited expressions of interest from agencies specialising in legacy waste management and bioremediation. It aims to develop scientific methods for handling and reuse while meeting norms set by the Central Pollution Control Board and the National Green Tribunal. PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh inspected sites in Moti Nagar on Wednesday to review preparedness.
