Pollution Chokes Delhi's Lifeline: Munak Canal Faces Grave Contamination Threat

As of October 2025, Delhi's Munak Canal, a critical piece of infrastructure supplying raw water to the capital, is facing a grave threat from widespread pollution and neglect. A recent inspection by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has revealed multiple sources of contamination along the canal's route through Haryana and northwest Delhi.

The report highlights alarming issues, including open defecation, waste burning, industrial dumping, and cattle bathing in the canal. Garbage is being dumped and segregated near slum clusters, with waste spilling directly into the water. The banks are also strewn with human excreta, and electric wires are being burnt to extract copper, leaving behind ash and residues that wash into the canal.

These polluting activities have led to serious water contamination in the Carrier Line Channel (CLC) and the Delhi Sub Branch (DSB), the two main channels of the Munak Canal. Experts warn that this could threaten the safety of Delhi's drinking water and undermine the operations of water treatment plants, as they may not be equipped to remove all the impurities.

In the past two years, the Munak Canal has suffered three major breaches, disrupting Delhi's water supply for days each time. The report calls for immediate measures, such as increased patrolling, installation of CCTV cameras, and better waste management, to safeguard this critical water infrastructure. Longer-term solutions, including the development of an elevated corridor along the canal, are also being considered by the government.