Govt. approves 32 new machines for Yamuna rejuvenation

The Delhi government on Wednesday approved the deployment of 32 high-capacity, modern cleaning machines to combat pollution in drains connected to the Yamuna river, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said.

The drive will begin from January 2026 at the Najafgarh drain, as the Yamuna rejuvenation will be driven by action, technology and accountability, according to an official statement.

“The core objective of the initiative is to stop untreated sludge, silt and solid waste from entering the Yamuna river by intensifying mechanised cleaning of major drains. The drive will begin from the Najafgarh drain, the single largest contributor of pollution into the river. It will further expand in a phased manner to other major drains and selected stretches of the river,” the official statement said.

The machines include eight long-boom amphibious excavators, six long-boom hydraulic excavators, two amphibious multi-purpose dredgers, and six self-propelled, self-unloading hopper barges.

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“For years, Yamuna cleaning was limited to paperwork and press statements. This time, machines will be working on the ground from January. That is the difference,” Mr. Singh said.

“Pollution in the Yamuna is the result of years of neglect and outdated systems. We are breaking that cycle by deploying modern, high-capacity machines and enforcing strict monitoring,” he added.