Yamuna Clean-Up Drive Targets Najafgarh Drain as Finland-Made Machine Joins Operations

New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to clean the Yamuna River are now sharply focused on the Najafgarh drain, identified as the single largest source of pollution, contributing nearly 70% of the contaminants entering the river. To accelerate the clean-up, authorities have deployed an advanced amphibious dredging machine imported from Finland to remove accumulated sludge, silt, and floating waste.

Officials said routine desilting has been underway at the drain, but the newly inducted high-capacity machine is expected to significantly speed up operations in stretches that have long posed challenges due to heavy pollution and congestion.

Calling Najafgarh the most critical intervention point, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma said effective river rejuvenation depends on sustained and technologically advanced cleaning of this drain, along with constant monitoring.

Why the Najafgarh Drain Is Critical

The Najafgarh drain carries untreated sewage and industrial waste from large areas of west and southwest Delhi into the Yamuna. Over the years, excessive silt accumulation and dense growth of water hyacinth have restricted water flow, worsening pollution downstream. Officials noted that without continuous mechanical intervention, the drain tends to clog rapidly.

What the Finnish Dredger Offers

The amphibious dredger is designed to operate efficiently in narrow and congested drains. Capable of working both on land and in water up to six metres deep, the machine can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, including silt dredging, sludge pumping, removal of floating waste, and clearing water hyacinth.

According to officials, the machine can process up to 600 cubic metres of sludge per hour and discharge waste over a distance of 1.5 kilometres. It is also equipped with GPS tracking and fuel monitoring systems. The total cost of the machine is ₹8.03 crore.

Additional Support Equipment

Alongside the dredger, three self-propelled hopper barges are already in operation at the drain. Each barge can carry 12 cubic metres of waste and unload material independently. The combined cost of these barges is ₹5.25 crore, officials said.

Expansion Planned Based on Results

The Delhi government has indicated that the initiative is performance-driven. If the machinery delivers the desired results, similar advanced equipment will be deployed at other stretches of the Yamuna and its major drains.

Reiterating the government’s commitment, Minister Verma said the clean-up drive is focused on long-term action rather than symbolic measures.