Overview
- The Finnish-made ‘Water Master’ was launched on January 16 at Dulsiras downstream of the UER drain to remove silt, sludge, floating waste and water hyacinth.
- Officials say the machine can work on land and in water up to six metres deep, process about 600 cubic metres per hour and discharge dredged material up to 1.5 kilometres.
- The dredger includes GPS tracking and fuel monitoring to oversee operations on congested stretches of the Najafgarh drain.
- Authorities cite the drain as carrying nearly 70% of the Yamuna’s pollution load, making it the focus of intensified mechanised cleaning.
- The dredger cost about Rs 8.04 crore, with three self-propelled hopper barges already in service to move waste at a combined cost of Rs 5.25 crore, each barge carrying 12 cubic metres.