Yamuna dredging work likely to begin by Dec

The process of dredging the Yamuna and Sahibi (Najafgarh Drain) is expected to begin by December to remove silt from the riverbed, with a high-tech machine set to arrive in Delhi next month.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the dredging machine, imported from Finland, features advanced technology for removing silt and debris from the river.

He added that one such machine would be procured initially and depending on its performance, additional units could be deployed to expedite the work. “The machine can operate up to six metres deep in the river and is equipped with various attachments to remove dirt, silt and even hardened material,” he said.

Unofficial estimates place the cost of one dredging machine between Rs 1 crore and Rs 2.5 crore.

In light of the recent floods in Delhi in 2025 and 2023, the government formulated the project to increase the Yamuna’s water-carrying capacity, reduce flooding and improve the river’s ecological health. The work will cover the 22-km stretch of the Yamuna that flows through the Capital.

While dredging is common in ports, reservoirs and irrigation canals, it has never before been attempted on a major Indian river for flood management and ecological restoration.

Dredging involves removing sediments and debris from the beds of rivers, lakes, harbours and other water bodies to maintain or increase depth and ensure navigability. The Yamuna, which supplies nearly 70 per cent of Delhi’s drinking water, has long suffered from pollution, sedimentation and recurring floods in adjoining low-lying areas during heavy rainfall.