Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Tuesday said that as part of the cleaning of the Yamuna, the Delhi government has launched a drone survey of smaller drains that discharge untreated waste into larger drains, which eventually flow into the river.
“We are doing drone surveys of all the sub-drains that are adding waste to larger drains. It is important for us to know the origin, entire map and outflow of each of these drains for a comprehensive policy,” the Minister said. There are over 300 sub-drains that flow into the city’s large drains.
“After we identify the source and the full length of these sub-drains, further steps like installation of decentralised sewage treatment plants will be taken up,” said Mr. Singh.
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Delhi Jal Board have launched several projects
on desilting the large drains and treating the solid and liquid waste flowing in them. Most of these are stormwater drains, meant to carry rainwater, not sewage.
Yamuna flows through Delhi for about 54 kilometres, of which the 22-km stretch from Wazirabad to Okhla is severely polluted.
Published – July 16, 2025 01:14 am IST
