Delhi PWD Minister Updates Silt Removal Guidelines for Drains

India

-Krishna Kripa

Updated: Saturday, April 26, 2025, 2:03 [IST]

Delhi
minister
Parvesh
Verma
has
instructed
the
Public
Works
Department
(PWD)
to
update
its
desilting
guidelines.
The
new
directive
mandates
that
silt
removed
from
drains
must
be
cleared
within
24
hours.
This
change
aims
to
address
ongoing
complaints
about
debris
being
left
on
roads.

The
PWD
has
set
a
target
to
complete
desilting
of
all
stormwater
drains
by
the
end
of
May,
ahead
of
the
monsoon
season.
Currently,
50
km
of
drains
have
been
cleared,
with
another
1,400
km
scheduled
for
cleaning
by
May
31,
according
to
Verma.

Desilting
Strategy
and
Contractor
Responsibilities

Contractors
are
now
required
to
remove
debris
and
malba
from
drains
within
a
day.
Previously,
they
had
two
days
to
do
so,
but
residents
reported
that
this
timeframe
was
often
not
adhered
to.
“We
have
taken
up
this
issue
seriously
and
it
has
been
specifically
communicated
that
one
day
is
enough
for
debris
to
dry
and
then
they
have
to
remove
it,
else
there
would
be
action
on
them,” Verma
stated.

The
city
has
been
divided
into
35
zones
for
the
desilting
operations.
This
zoning
is
intended
to
streamline
the
process
and
ensure
efficient
management
of
resources
and
efforts
across
Delhi.

Payment
Revisions
for
Contractors

Under
the
revised
policy,
contractors’
payments
will
no
longer
be
based
on
the
amount
of
debris
removed.
Instead,
their
compensation
will
depend
on
ensuring
that
drains
remain
unblocked
and
functional.
This
shift
aims
to
prioritise
effective
drainage
over
mere
volume
of
silt
removal.

The
decision
to
revise
payment
criteria
is
part
of
a
broader
strategy
to
improve
accountability
among
contractors.
By
focusing
on
drain
functionality,
the
PWD
hopes
to
enhance
overall
efficiency
in
managing
the
city’s
drainage
system.

This
initiative
reflects
a
proactive
approach
by
the
Delhi
government
to
tackle
drainage
issues
before
the
onset
of
monsoon
rains.
By
enforcing
stricter
timelines
and
changing
payment
structures,
authorities
aim
to
mitigate
flooding
risks
and
improve
urban
infrastructure
maintenance.