What was the Defence Colony drain cleaning project?

It was a nine-month project to clean and desilt a 1.3km drain that empties into the Barapullah drain.

How much silt was removed from the Defence Colony drain?

Between 22,000 and 24,000 tonnes of silt and debris were removed.

What is Delhi's sewage treatment capacity?

Delhi generates 792 MGD of sewage, but only treats about 704 MGD, with 11% untreated.

Home / Environment / Delhi Drain Cleaning: Nine Months of Grit Revealed

Delhi Drain Cleaning: Nine Months of Grit Revealed

12 Dec

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Summary

Defence Colony drain cleaning took nine months to complete.
Over 22,000 tonnes of silt and debris were removed.
Delhi treats only 11% of its daily sewage production.

Delhi Drain Cleaning: Nine Months of Grit Revealed

The extensive nine-month operation to clean and desilt the 1.3km Defence Colony drain is now complete, as confirmed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. This vital channel, a tributary to the Barapullah drain, had become inaccessible due to a beautification project covering it between 2009 and 2013. Engineers employed a "cut-skip-cut" method, opening 19 sections of the concrete cover to allow mechanical access for desilting.

During the process, an estimated 22,000 to 24,000 tonnes of silt and debris were removed using backhoe loaders, power shovels, and manual teams, with the material transported to the Okhla landfill. The openings were resealed with removable steel sheets to ensure future accessibility and prevent monsoon waterlogging. Despite being a stormwater drain, it receives sewage from Greater Kailash and surrounding areas, with ventilation shafts previously blocked by hazardous gases.