Delhi Drain Desilting: Deadline Extended to June 30
- Delhi's Public Works Department (PWD) is facing challenges in its monsoon preparedness.
- PWD Minister Parvesh Verma had previously mandated the June 15 deadline for the desilting of all PWD-managed drains.
- Performance varied substantially among the 17 PWD divisions.
Delhi’s drain desilting efforts are behind schedule, with the original june 15 deadline missed. The Public Works Department (PWD) has only completed 60% of the crucial desilting work, raising concerns about potential urban flooding during the monsoon. This delay has prompted an extension of the deadline to June 30. With 445 waterlogging points identified, and varying performance amongst the 17 PWD divisions, officials are now focused on accelerating the process. To understand the impact of these delays on flood control efforts in Delhi, especially in the 35 zones allocated for better monitoring of ongoing desilting, consult News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as the city prepares for the rainy season.
Delhi’s Drain Desilting Lags Behind; Deadline Extended to June 30
Updated June 17, 2025
Delhi’s Public Works Department (PWD) is facing challenges in its monsoon preparedness. An official report revealed that the department only completed 60% of its drain desilting work by the original June 15 deadline. This initiative plays a crucial role in preventing urban flooding during the monsoon season.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma had previously mandated the June 15 deadline for the desilting of all PWD-managed drains. As of Tuesday, the department reported completing 1,294 km of desilting out of a total 2,140 km of drain length. The slow progress raises concerns about potential waterlogging issues across the city.
Performance varied substantially among the 17 PWD divisions. South West Region-2 (SWR-2) achieved 100% completion, while West Road-2 division lagged significantly, completing only 31% of the work. to address the delays, officials extended the deadline to June 30.
Verma stated on June 10, during an inspection of the Irrigation and flood Control Department’s control room, that the Delhi government had completed 90% of desilting work for 76 drains under the I&FC and about 50% of work on PWD drains. The city has been divided into 35 zones for better monitoring of the ongoing desilting efforts.Each zone plays a vital role in the overall flood control strategy.
The PWD reported 308 waterlogging points in Delhi in 2023. New data from the traffic police identified 445 such points this year, with 335 under PWD’s responsibility. To mitigate these issues, additional pump operators are being deployed in three shifts at each vulnerable point.
What’s next
With the extended deadline,the PWD aims to ramp up desilting efforts to minimize waterlogging during the monsoon season. Continued monitoring and resource allocation will be crucial to achieving this goal and ensuring the city’s infrastructure can effectively manage heavy rainfall.