Monitoring all major drains, Yamuna levels 24x7: Verma

In order to eliminate waterlogging and ensure flood preparedness in the Capital ahead of the monsoon, Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma on Tuesday inspected the control room of the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department at Shastri Nagar and reviewed the flood management strategy.

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The minister announced that all 77 major drains and Yamuna water levels would be monitored round the clock from the state-of-the-art control room, which will serve as the nerve centre for real-time decision-making throughout the rainy season.

“This is our control room against waterlogging and flood threats,” said Verma. “We are monitoring all 77 major drains and Yamuna levels 24x7. From June 15, once the monsoon begins, officials from the police, SDM and other departments will be stationed here for seamless coordination. People will witness the results this time. This is not a promise, it’s our commitment, he said.

During his visit, Verma held a detailed review meeting with senior officials on drain desilting, upstream water release tracking and downstream impact assessment. He was informed that 90 per cent of the cleaning work across 76 major drains is complete, with the rest nearing completion. Modern equipment, GPS-based tracking and ground-level verification are being deployed to ensure all drainage lines are cleared in time.

The minister directed that daily updates on drain cleaning be logged in the control room and emphasised the importance of inter-agency coordination. He also inspected the surveillance systems, emergency alert mechanisms and response protocols set up to tackle flood-like situations.

Officials noted that the I&FC Department has already activated its emergency alert systems and is maintaining real-time dashboards for rapid response. The control room will operate 24x7 for the entire monsoon period.

Verma said, “The goal is not just to tackle rainfall, but to restore the faith of Delhi’s residents that this year they won’t face the same old problems. Our preparations are not limited to paperwork, these are happening on the ground. This time people will see the difference. This is not just a promise, it’s our commitment.”