Delhi Deploys Weed Harvesters To Clear Najafgarh Drain, Reduce Yamuna Pollution

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 08:34 IST

Officials noted that the machines are powered by a 112-horsepower engine and have a storage capacity of around 14 cubic metres.

In an effort to clean the Yamuna River at its source before the monsoon, the Delhi government will deploy two weed harvester machines at the Najafgarh drain, one of the largest sources of pollutants flowing into the Yamuna, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh announced on Saturday.

Officials said tackling the issue at the source is expected to significantly lower the pollutant load entering the river while also improving the city’s drainage efficiency.

“Cleaning the Najafgarh drain is directly linked to cleaning the Yamuna. We are now using modern, Made-in-India machines aligned with the vision of Swachh Bharat to deliver real, visible change," Singh said. He also holds the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) portfolio.

Singh added that the dual-purpose harvesters represent technology-driven governance rather than just machinery.

Officials noted that the machines are powered by a 112-horsepower engine and have a storage capacity of around 14 cubic metres. They are capable of cutting, collecting and removing dense aquatic vegetation such as water hyacinth, along with floating waste.

The machines have been procured at a cost of Rs 2.9 crore and are ready to be deployed. The initiative is part of a wider effort to clean the Yamuna.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said the river would be cleaned before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Officials said the work is being carried out on a “war footing", with a timeline of two to three years focused on stopping waste at its source.

The government also said the measure is intended to prevent waterlogging ahead of the monsoon, when blocked drains frequently lead to flooding in several parts of the city.

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