New Delhi – The Delhi government has announced a significant initiative to procure advanced Yamuna cleaning machines designed specifically for dredging and desilting operations in the national capital’s most polluted waterways. This project, estimated to cost approximately ₹5 crore, represents a comprehensive effort to address the severe pollution challenges facing the Yamuna river and larger drainage systems, particularly the Najafgarh drain.
Senior government officials confirmed that these specialized Yamuna cleaning machines will be amphibious excavators capable of operating in difficult marshy and swamp conditions, marking a technological upgrade in the city’s river restoration efforts.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
The Yamuna cleaning machines being procured possess sophisticated technical specifications designed to handle diverse cleanup challenges. These amphibious excavators will feature a boom length of six meters and an unloading height capability from 4.5 meters above water level, enabling efficient operation in various water depth conditions.
According to officials explaining the features of these Yamuna cleaning machines, the equipment will be specifically engineered to function in narrow areas for removing silt, sludge, and floating materials that have accumulated over years of neglect. A particularly innovative feature of these Yamuna cleaning machines is their foldable hydraulic arms, which will allow the equipment to navigate beneath low-height bridges commonly found across Delhi’s drainage network.
The versatility of these Yamuna cleaning machines extends beyond simple excavation to include desilting, solid waste removal, elimination of unwanted vegetation, and even landscaping work along riverbanks and drain corridors.
Procurement Process and Timeline
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has taken the lead in procuring these Yamuna cleaning machines, inviting bids that include not just equipment acquisition but also four years of comprehensive operations and maintenance services. This integrated approach ensures sustained functionality and optimal performance of the Yamuna cleaning machines throughout their operational lifecycle.
The estimated cost for these Yamuna cleaning machines stands at ₹4.4 crore, with each machine expected to operate continuously for 54 months. Officials indicate that the bidding process is likely to reach finalization by next week, suggesting rapid implementation of this critical infrastructure project.
This procurement timeline demonstrates the government’s urgency in deploying Yamuna cleaning machines to address the river’s deteriorating condition, particularly following controversies surrounding recent Chhath Puja celebrations.
Comprehensive 45-Point Action Plan Context
The acquisition of these Yamuna cleaning machines forms part of a broader rejuvenation strategy announced in June, when the Delhi government launched a comprehensive 45-point action plan aimed at restoring the Yamuna within a two-year timeframe. This ambitious blueprint includes multiple technological interventions beyond just excavators.
The action plan proposes deploying floating skimmers to collect surface debris and installing floating pontoons in major drains that discharge into the river, creating barriers to trap waste before it enters the Yamuna. The Yamuna cleaning machines will complement these measures by addressing accumulated sediment and embedded pollutants that surface-level interventions cannot remove.
Danish Dredging Technology Addition
In a parallel initiative announced last Wednesday, Water Minister Parvesh Verma revealed plans to bring state-of-the-art Yamuna cleaning machines from Denmark by December. This equipment, identified as the “Watermaster Classic IV,” will significantly augment the capital’s desilting and dredging capabilities for both the Yamuna and Najafgarh drain.
Manufactured by a Finland-based private company, this specialized addition to Delhi’s Yamuna cleaning machines arsenal is an amphibious multipurpose dredger capable of operating seamlessly both on land and in water, from dry ground to depths of six meters. The machine’s versatility allows it to perform multiple functions including excavation, suction dredging, piling, and raking, effectively replacing several single-purpose machines.
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Advanced Features of Watermaster Classic IV
The technical sophistication of this particular Yamuna cleaning machine is noteworthy. Powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder Caterpillar C7.1 diesel engine, the Watermaster Classic IV boasts a suction capacity of up to 600 cubic meters per hour, making it one of the most powerful Yamuna cleaning machines in the proposed fleet.
The equipment can discharge removed silt up to 1.5 kilometers away through metal pipes, addressing the logistical challenge of disposing of dredged material. Its built-in stabilizers enable independent anchoring in water without requiring support vessels, enhancing operational efficiency of these Yamuna cleaning machines.
An air-conditioned cabin for operators ensures year-round functionality even under Delhi’s extreme weather conditions, from scorching summers to foggy winters. The machine employs a sophisticated cutter and suction system to remove compacted silt, converting it into semi-solid sludge before transferring it away from the work site.
Comprehensive Cleanup Capabilities
Beyond dredging, these advanced Yamuna cleaning machines can scoop floating waste and feature crane mechanisms to assemble their modular components, providing flexibility in deployment across different locations along the river and drain networks.
Strategic Implementation Timeline
With the bidding process for the initial two Yamuna cleaning machines nearing completion and the Danish equipment scheduled for December arrival, Delhi’s river restoration efforts are poised for significant acceleration. The coordinated deployment of multiple specialized Yamuna cleaning machines represents the most comprehensive technological intervention in the Yamuna’s cleanup history, offering hope for meaningful improvement in the river’s long-degraded condition and demonstrating the government’s commitment to environmental restoration through sustained investment in advanced cleanup infrastructure and long-term maintenance frameworks.
