After years of neglect, desilting work on trunk sewer line begins

Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday launched the long-pending cleaning and desilting work of the 6.85-km Jail Road-Keshopur trunk sewer line, describing it as a critical intervention to tackle recurring sewage overflow across parts of Janakpuri, Hari Nagar, Shiv Nagar and nearby residential pockets.

The project is estimated to cost around Rs 13 crore. The trunk sewer line had not been cleaned for several years. Officials confirmed that it had nearly 65 per cent silt deposition.

The minister said, “The work to clean and desilt the 6.85-km-long main trunk sewer line has begun after several years.”

During the visit, Sood also inspected sanitation and garbage management across multiple blocks in Ward 104 of Janakpuri, where he reprimanded officials over unhygienic waste collection points and poor civic infrastructure. He said: “Negligence in work will not be tolerated.”

Residents of C-4/A Block complained that garbage often spilled outside designated collection points and drains and footpaths remained damaged or uncovered. Meanwhile, residents of C-4/E Block thanked the government for recent progress on underground cabling work.

Sood assured the residents that the government would prioritise underground wiring and replacement of damaged local sewer lines once the trunk line cleaning is completed.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he said: “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, our government is committed to strengthening cleanliness and civic amenities in every part of Delhi.”

The minister said he would return in 10 days to review progress and warned that non-performance could lead to disciplinary action.