New Delhi, 13 March (H.S.): Chief Minister Rekha Gupta flagged off new amphibious machines Friday for desilting drains at Badusarai Bridge and Pankha Road, intensifying mission-mode efforts to purify the Yamuna River. These machines will expedite silt removal, waste clearance, and water hyacinth eradication, enhancing drainage and mitigating monsoon flooding.

Gupta noted Najafgarh Drain—Delhi's largest, channeling 75% of city silt—as the focus, where over 1 crore metric tons of accumulated sediment is being tackled by modern floating excavators that access mid-channel deposits previously deemed challenging.

One machine was already deployed; today's four additions bring the fleet to five, with more procurement underway for year-round operations beyond pre-monsoon limits.

Under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, the government deploys cutting-edge technology for Yamuna and major drains to ensure perennial flow and purity, fostering a cleaner, flood-free Delhi.

Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh termed this pivotal for boosting drain capacity, while Home Minister Ashish Sood highlighted fulfilled promises like Pankha Road beautification—new walls built, initial cleanup completed within 100 days to end stench and waterlogging.

Amphibious Excavator Specifications

Short-boom models (₹1.27 crore) feature 6m booms, 0.20 cu.m buckets, 65HP engines, and 2.25 cu.m waste bins, operable in 5m-wide channels across dry, marshy, or submerged conditions. Long-boom variants (₹3.15 crore) offer 15m reach, 0.50 cu.m buckets, 135HP power, and 9m depth capability on land or water, excelling at silt, debris, and hyacinth removal.

Deployed at Badusarai, Kakrola, Dwarka, Uttam Nagar, these aim for sustained desilting to conquer seasonal deluges.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar