Delhi Deploys Finnish Machine to Clean Polluted Yamuna

One of India's most polluted rivers is getting a fighting chance thanks to cutting-edge technology from halfway around the world.

Delhi's Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh unveiled an Amphibian Multipurpose Dredger Watermaster this week in the Najafgarh Drain, which feeds directly into the sacred Yamuna River. The Finnish-made machine represents a major shift from manual cleanup efforts to automated, large-scale pollution control.

The Najafgarh Drain carries more pollution into the Yamuna than any other source in Delhi. For years, the buildup of silt, sludge, floating waste, and water hyacinth has choked the drain and poisoned the river downstream.

This new dredger changes the game. It can operate on dry land or dive up to six meters underwater, making it perfect for the complex, congested drain system. The machine tackles multiple problems at once: dredging sediment, raking debris, removing sludge, and clearing invasive water plants.

Three Hopper Barges will work alongside the dredger to haul away collected waste. Together, they form Delhi's most advanced water cleaning operation to date.

Minister Singh made clear this is a test run with high stakes. If the machine performs well, more will be deployed across different sections of the Yamuna and its connecting drains. The government is taking an outcome-based approach, letting results guide future investments.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't happening in isolation. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that officials have reached consensus on expanding Yamuna cleanup through biogas plants and new treatment facilities. Industries along the river will need to install Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants.

The combination of advanced machinery, biological treatment, and stricter industrial standards creates a three-pronged attack on decades of pollution. What makes this different from past efforts is the focus on preventing new pollution while removing existing contamination.

The Yamuna serves over 60 million people across five states. Cleaning it improves drinking water, supports wildlife, and restores cultural sites along its banks. Success in Delhi could provide a blueprint for cleaning other urban rivers across India facing similar challenges.

Technology-driven solutions like the Amphibian Dredger show that even deeply entrenched environmental problems can be reversed when governments invest in proven tools and sustained action.