The BJP government has ramped up flood control efforts with advanced monitoring ahead of monsoon in Delhi
NEW DELHI: The newly established Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Delhi has gone into active mode, working effectively to prepare the capital for the upcoming monsoon season. Every year, heavy rains disrupt daily life in the national capital, leading to widespread waterlogging that hampers the city’s functioning and causes severe inconvenience to its residents.
Tragically, last year’s monsoon even claimed several lives due to flooding-related incidents. Determined to avoid a repeat of such scenarios, the new administration has acted swiftly and decisively to get Delhi monsoon-ready. As part of these proactive measures, Delhi’s Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control, Parvesh Sahib Singh, conducted an inspection of the modern control room of the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department located in Shastri Nagar. This visit was part of a broader high-level review of the city’s flood preparedness and drainage system readiness ahead of the monsoon.
While addressing the media during his visit, the Minister emphasised that the government has adopted a war-footing approach to flood control efforts. “This is our I&FC Control Room, which continuously monitors all 77 major drains across Delhi and keeps track of the water level of the Yamuna River around the clock. It analyses rainfall drainage flow, the volume of water released upstream, and the downstream consequences,” he stated. Singh further added that the control room will remain fully functional 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the entire monsoon period. It will serve as the central hub for real-time coordination and emergency decision-making.
Starting June 15, when monsoon activity is expected to intensify, the control room will also host officials from the police, SDM offices, and other crucial departments to ensure prompt and collaborative responses during flood-related emergencies. During the review session, senior departmental officials briefed the Minister that nearly 90% of the cleaning work for the city’s 76 major drains has already been completed. The remaining portion is undergoing final clean-up operations. Advanced machinery, GPS tracking tools, and on-site inspection teams are being used to ensure that no clogs occur, thus significantly reducing the threat of water accumulation and flooding in the city.
The Minister directed that daily, real-time progress reports on the drain-cleaning operations be updated and maintained in the control room without fail. He also carefully examined the surveillance setup, warning systems, and multi-agency coordination protocols at the facility to ensure the systems are fully prepared to handle emergencies. Reinforcing the government’s commitment, the Minister remarked, “Our objective is not just to manage heavy rainfall but to rebuild the trust of the people of Delhi that this year, the situation will be different. We are not limiting our efforts to plans on paper— work is actively happening on the ground. Citizens will witness the change.
This is not merely a promise, but a firm commitment.” The I&FC Department has also operationalised live monitoring systems and alert mechanisms to guarantee a quick and efficient response in case of emergency situations, with a particular focus on the prompt evacuation of low-lying and floodprone areas, if necessary. Given the extensive waterlogging and urban flooding experienced in recent monsoons, this comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck strategy represents a significant departure from past practices. It reflects the government’s shift towards a more technologically equipped, datadriven model of governance in managing Delhi’s drainage and flood-control infrastructure.