Home / Environment / Cutting-Edge Dredger from Finland to Revive Delhi's Yamuna River
Cutting-Edge Dredger from Finland to Revive Delhi's Yamuna River
23 Oct
Summary
- State-of-the-art dredging machine arriving in Delhi by December 2025
- Machine to aid in desilting and dredging of Yamuna River and Najafgarh drain
- Total cost of the machine is ₹8 crore
As of October 2025, the Delhi government is preparing to welcome a cutting-edge dredging machine from Finland to aid in the cleanup and restoration of the Yamuna River. The Watermaster Classic IV, a state-of-the-art amphibious dredger, is expected to arrive in the capital by December 2025 at a cost of ₹8 crore.
The machine, capable of operating both on land and in water, will be a game-changer in the ongoing efforts to desilting and dredge the Yamuna River and the Najafgarh drain. According to Delhi's water minister Parvesh Verma, the Watermaster Classic IV can perform multiple functions such as excavation, suction dredging, piling, and raking, effectively replacing the need for several single-purpose machines.
The government plans to use the dredger to enhance the Yamuna's water-carrying capacity and improve the overall health of the river, which has long been plagued by siltation and sewage inflow. To facilitate this, the authorities are preparing to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to seek permission for selective dredging of the river, which is currently restricted to protect aquatic ecosystems.
Once the necessary approvals are in place, the officials aim to start the cleaning operations from January 2026, with the goal of restoring the Yamuna's natural flow, improving flood resilience, and easing the pressure on regulator drains. Similar dredging projects have been undertaken for stretches of the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers in the past.
