Desilting and dredging efforts of the Barapulla, Sunehri and Kushak drains that had been started in mission mode by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, last monsoons after severe flooding and related complaints by residents, received major fillip today as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday inspected major drains across the city and directed officials to ensure their desilting before the monsoon.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Saxena, Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma, and other officials. She inspected Barapulla Drain at Outer Ring Road,  Barapulla Bridge,  Sunheri Pul Drain near Clover Leaf Flyover, Barapulla Drain and Outfall of Sunheri Pul Drain at Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Kushak Drain near Lala Lajpat Rai Bridge and covered portions of Sunheri

Pul Drain at DTC Bus Depot  and Dayal Singh College.

Addressing long-standing issues of waterlogging, pollution, and inefficient drainage, the government has rolled out a comprehensive action plan focused on regular cleaning, desilting, and redevelopment of major drains, while also integrating Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to prevent untreated waste from entering the Yamuna. Advanced technology, inter-agency coordination, and strict monitoring are being leveraged to make this mission a success.

On this occasion, Saxena, stated that to completely eliminate the problem of waterlogging in Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, and all other relevant departments have been directed to clean and improve the drainage system in a time-bound manner before the monsoon. Any delay or negligence will not be tolerated.

“Our priority is to ensure that there is no waterlogging on Delhi’s roads this year, allowing citizens to commute without any disruptions. All agencies have been instructed to work in coordination and ensure regular monitoring,” he added.

After reviewing the situation, the chief minister blamed the previous AAP government for neglecting the drains, which she said led to waterlogging and sewage overflow on the roads.

“These drains were not taken seriously by the previous governments. When big drains like these are not cleaned, it is obvious that sewage will flow out,” the chief minister said. She stressed the urgent need for action to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

Gupta visited the Sunheri, Barapulla and Kushak drains and noted a lack of coordination among the agencies responsible for their maintenance.

She further explained that until the major drains of the city are thoroughly cleaned and their water-carrying capacity is increased, the issue of waterlogging will persist.

The government conducted inspections of six major drains, including the Barapula and Sunehri Pul drains. During the inspection, it was observed that lack of coordination among agencies was a key reason for waterlogging issues.

To address this challenge, the Delhi government has assigned the Flood and Irrigation Department a special responsibility to ensure timely desilting of drains. A dedicated budget has been allocated, and a strict timeline has been set to complete this work efficiently.

Gupta said it is important to prepare in advance. “These drains should be cleaned before monsoon, so that they can carry water during the rains. Nothing happens in a single day,” she said.

The Chief Minister assured that all major drains in Delhi will be cleaned before the onset of the monsoon to prevent waterlogging during heavy rains. Additionally, a large-scale mission has been launched to clean smaller drains along roads, with the government making this a priority task.

The Chief Minister emphasised that this will not be just a paperwork formality-feedback will be collected from residents and legislators to verify whether the desilting work has been properly executed. She said that all this cannot be done by sitting in AC rooms and doing press conferences.

The Chief Minister said that Delhi was settled in an unplanned manner and that there is no proper outlet for drains in the city. She also assured that the government will ensure that the people of Delhi do not face any problem due to waterlogging and their aim is the welfare of the people.

She also outlined her government’s strategy for ensuring efficient governance. “All ministers have been given missions, and all our MLAs are designated with public works,” she said.

The Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said she has ensured that necessary steps will be taken to prevent waterlogging, an issue that affected the city during past monsoons.

PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment, stating that the BJP government in Delhi is taking concrete steps to modernize Delhi’s drainage system and restore the Yamuna to its pristine state.

“Transforming Delhi into a cleaner, flood-free city with a rejuvenated Yamuna is our top priority. A clean Yamuna, an efficient drainage network, and a pollution-free city are no longer just aspirations  they are becoming reality,” he added.

The condition of Delhi’s drainage system was a key issue in the recent Assembly elections, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long rule. The BJP won 48 out of 70 seats, reducing AAP to just 22, marking a significant political shift in the national capital.