Master Plan of Delhi 2047 Identifies Eight Problematic Drains for Urgent Overhaul
Delhi authorities have for the first time identified eight "troublesome" drains across localities including North East Delhi, Kirari Suleman Nagar, Pankha Road, Nasirpur in West Delhi, and Asola in South Delhi, citing severe maintenance hurdles caused by encroachments, sewage discharge, and solid waste dumping.
The findings and proposed remedial actions were detailed in a service plan report prepared by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and incorporated into the recently approved Master Plan of Delhi 2047. The plan highlights that multiple civic bodies—including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Jal Board, and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department—face difficulties maintaining these vital channels ahead of monsoon flooding.
At Escape Drain No 1, water flow has been obstructed by two internal water pipelines alongside heavy silt from a water treatment plant and limited clearance for desilting machinery. Authorities have recommended shifting the pipelines to clear the waterway.
In North East Delhi, the Biharipur drain is hemmed in by closely packed houses that prevent machinery access, worsened by dumping of municipal waste and cow dung. The master plan recommends developing a parallel carriageway, remodelling drainage channels, and demolishing unauthorised constructions along the banks where necessary. A similar approach is outlined for the Bund drain, where a bypass drain and bar screen have been set up, but further demolition of illegal structures and road construction are proposed to secure access.
The Kirari Suleman Nagar drain faces extensive pollution from 106 unauthorised and unsewered colonies discharging household sewage and solid waste. To resolve this, the DDA is set to divert incoming wastewater at two points into adjacent drains, demolish three culverts, and install Hume pipes to expand the waterway.
Along the Pankha Road drain, which is constrained by high-tension overhead power lines and encroachments, authorities plan to construct concrete boundary walls and coordinate with power discoms and the DJB. Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India plans to remodel the relief drain along its entire length to establish a functional outfall.
For the Nasirpur and Asola drains, where absence of garbage collection points has led nearby residents to dump waste directly into the water, the MCD has been tasked with building dedicated waste collection structures and installing steel mesh covers to keep garbage out.
