Pankaj Jain, New Delhi, Jan 17 (.) On a quiet stretch of the Najafgarh Drain, a machine unlike anything seen before in Delhi’s drainage system slowly rolled into the water. As it did, officials watching from the banks described the moment as symbolic, a sign that the city’s long struggle to clean the Yamuna and its connected drains is entering a more serious phase.
A state-of-the-art ‘Water Master’ amphibious dredger along with three hopper barges was formally launched by Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma at the Najafgarh Drain, a channel that carries nearly 70 per cent of the pollution load entering the Yamuna.
For decades, the drain has been choked with silt, sludge, weeds and floating waste, turning it into one of the biggest obstacles to river rejuvenation and flood management in the Capital.
Imported from Finland, the ‘Water Master’ has been brought in to tackle a problem that conventional machines have struggled with removing silt that has accumulated over the last 30 to 40 years without disrupting water flow. Using advanced cutting and suction technology, the machine loosens hardened deposits from the drain bed and immediately separates the silt from the water, allowing clean water to flow back into the channel.
Officials say this alone could make a significant difference during the monsoon months, when heavy rainfall often overwhelms drains clogged with decades-old deposits. Unlike traditional dredgers, the Water Master can operate in water up to 6 metres deep and dredge to a depth of nearly 18 feet, making it both faster and far more efficient.
What sets the machine apart is its amphibious design. It can move seamlessly from dry land into water, stabilise itself using four hydraulic legs, and operate with a flexible excavator arm that can rotate 180 degrees. Equipped with a 600-litre backhoe bucket and powered by a Caterpillar engine, the dredger is designed for precision work in narrow and congested drains like Najafgarh.
The technology goes beyond brute force. GPS-based tracking and fuel sensors allow real-time monitoring of operations, a feature officials say will ensure transparency and accountability. With a sludge pumping capacity of 600 cubic metres per hour and a discharge distance of up to 1.5 kilometres, the machine dramatically increases the city’s ability to remove waste that has long remained untouched. The cost of the amphibian dredger is Rs 803.78 lakh.
To support the operation, three self-propelled and self-unloading hopper barges have also been deployed at the site. Each barge, with a capacity of 12 cubic metres, will be used for backhoe dredging, removal of hyacinth and floating waste, and to improve the efficiency of dredge utility craft operations. The barges have been procured at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore each.
Standing near the drain, PWD minister Parvesh Verma said the focus was clear and uncompromising.
“Najafgarh Drain is the biggest contributor to Yamuna pollution. If we are serious about cleaning the river, this drain has to be treated with the best available technology and continuous monitoring,” he said.
Calling the amphibian dredger a global-standard machine, the minister emphasised that the government’s approach would be outcome-driven.
“If the performance of this machinery meets expectations, more such advanced machines will be deployed at different locations across the Yamuna River and its drains,” he added.
Verma also underlined that the initiative was not meant to be a one-time exercise.
“Cleaning Yamuna is not about announcements; it is about sustained action on the ground. This commissioning reflects our resolve to address pollution, improve drainage capacity, and prevent flooding with permanent and scientific solutions,” he said.
For residents living along the drain and downstream of the Yamuna, the sight of heavy machinery finally addressing years of neglect, offers cautious hope. If the Water Master performs as promised, officials believe it could mark a turning point not just in cleaning one drain, but in reshaping how Delhi tackles pollution and flooding across its vast and overburdened drainage network.
. PKJ KK