Delhi Drafts Climate-Focused Drainage Master Plan To Tackle Future Rainfall

The Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD) is incorporating projections of an 11 per cent increase in future rainfall into its forthcoming drainage master plan, sources revealed on Friday. This climate-focused draft, set for imminent launch, is designed to sustain the city's drainage needs over the next three decades amid escalating urban expansion and persistent waterlogging crises.

The existing system currently manages up to 50 millimetres of daily rainfall, but the new plan proposes doubling this capacity to cope with intensified runoff from rapid urbanisation. Since the last comprehensive plan in 1976, Delhi's built-up areas have surged, exacerbating overflows during monsoons. The national capital, now home to over 30 million residents compared to just six million in 1976, has seen frequent flooding disrupt daily life, as evidenced by last year's heavy rains that submerged key roads and underpasses.

To oversee implementation across the city's 3,740 kilometres of drainage network—spanning eight civic agencies—an interdepartmental committee comprising officers from relevant departments will be established. The PWD has segmented Delhi into three major basins: Najafgarh, Barapullah, and Trans-Yamuna, engaging consultants to overhaul the infrastructure for enhanced resilience.

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Emphasising sustainable solutions, the plan prioritises nature-based interventions such as lake rejuvenation, green parks, wetland restoration, and widespread rainwater harvesting. These measures aim to boost biodiversity, recharge groundwater, and mitigate flood risks, aligning with global trends in climate-adaptive urban planning. Officials anticipate the strategy will transform Delhi's vulnerability into a model for resilient city infrastructure.

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