Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma on Sunday carried out an inspection of the Yamuna at the Palla area, the point where the river enters the national capital from Haryana. He claimed that most drainage systems in the national capital are functioning effectively and brief accumulation of rainwater should not be termed as waterlogging.
Verma, who was on a boat, himself collected a water sample in the middle of the river. This will be used to test the quality of water at the entry point of the city. Accompanied by senior department officials, the inspection was also carried out via boats to assess the water level and the condition of the riverbanks.
The water in the Palla region is visibly clean, but as the Yamuna enters Delhi, it turns dark and polluted. Efforts are underway to ensure that the river remains just as clean within Delhi as it is upstream, the minister added. The minister also mentioned that the Delhi government is fully active on the ground during the monsoon season.
The visit was aimed at assessing the condition of the river ahead of the monsoon peak and reviewing the preparedness of departments responsible for flood control and drainage. A detailed review meeting was held to assess flood preparedness.
The minister said, “If rainwater drains away within minutes, it cannot be termed waterlogging. In most areas, drainage systems are working effectively. “True waterlogging refers to stagnation that lasts four to five hours or more, he said.
He directed strict monitoring and coordination among departments to ensure the condition of the river within Delhi matches its upstream quality.
Taking a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party, he said that it is selectively showing photos from a few locations to create a false narrative of widespread waterlogging across the city. Verma stated that Delhi is a vast city, and isolated incidents cannot define the overall situation in the entire national capital. He assured that in most parts of the city, the drainage systems are functioning effectively.
Notably, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had recently expressed serious concern and dissatisfaction in response to the waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall in various parts of the capital. The CM had issued strict directives to concerned department officials to implement effective measures to prevent waterlogging so that residents of Delhi do not face inconvenience during the monsoon season.
Earlier, the minister had also mentioned that the government was fixing waterlogging issues at known points such as the Minto Road and ITO, where the problem had existed for long.
Pointing to waterlogging even in Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s own constituency, senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha slammed the BJP for empty photo-ops, false promises, and filthy drains that remain 40% uncleared despite massive budget claims. Exposing the government’s shifting deadlines, Jha added, “BJP ministers first said all cleaning would be done by the end of April, then extended it to June 15, and finally to June 30. Their own website shows PWD has 2,140 km of drains, out of which 840 km have still not been cleaned—clearly, 40% of PWD drains remain untouched.” “Similarly, MCD has about 800 km of drains, of which 150–200 km—nearly 25%—haven’t been cleaned. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has 23 major drains in Delhi, and 8–10 of them are still partially cleaned,” he added