Drainage is an important element of physical infrastructure and constitutes removal and disposal of surplus rain/irrigation water from the land. It has two aspects namely flood protection and removal of storm water. National Capital Region in general, is a part of well integrated drainage system of the Ganga basin. The extremely gentle gradient that spreads almost all over the region restricts the degradational activities of the streams/drains. The storm water discharge in any basin/sub-basin of NCR is not local but has regional bearing covering areas of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi. It is, therefore, necessary to plan the drainage system at regional level in an integrated manner with adjoining States. Topography, rainfall intensity, soil characteristics, irrigation methods, crops and vegetative cover are important factors for deciding the type and design of drainage system. Since urban expansion is inevitable, increased run off would require remodeling of the existing drains as well as provisions of new/supplementary drains, implementation of appropriate flood protection measures, protection of natural drainage course, improved ground water recharge, and other environmental improvement measures such as prevention of sewer flows into the storm drains, pollution of river Yamuna etc. Provision of appropriate drainage in marginal settlements consisting of JJ clusters, resettlement colonies, informal/unauthorized colonies, etc, also requires due attention.

Regional Plan-2001 proposed that open drains, which are by and large the sources of nuisance and pollution, should be discouraged and discontinued. Areas where the annual rainfall exceeds 75 cm, separate systems for sewage and storm water are recommended. A combined sewerage system including drainage may be economical if the average annual rainfall is less than 75 cm.

During the review of Regional Plan-2001 in the year 1999, it was observed that nearly 60% towns are partially covered with the storm water drainage system and only two towns are fully covered. In all the cases, drains are open and in some of the towns there is combined system. The disposal of storm water is invariably unplanned and takes natural course on land, depressions, ponds etc.

Studies have revealed that there is lack of integrated planning in the drainage for storm water which is not local but has got regional bearing covering areas in Haryana, Rajasthan, U.P. and NCT-Delhi Sub-regions. Untreated sewage continues to flow in most of the drains in the region and ultimately falls into the rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Encroachment by slum dwellers along the drains causes choking of drains and flooding in the upstream areas due to reduced carrying capacity. Dumping of solid waste in the drains also continues causing blockage. Master Plans have not been prepared district wise. Even the hydraulic survey has not been carried out regularly to assess the conditions of the drains.

In order to improve the regional and local drainage system in NCR, following strategies and policies are proposed:

Integrated Regional Drainage Plan at the regional level and Drainage Master Plans at the district level should be prepared after critically examining each major drainage system under basins/sub-basins of NCR at micro level by the State Governments incorporating the improvement proposals for enhancing the quality of regional and local drains taking into account the present/future development and settlement pattern in the region. All the related works at the regional level should be coordinated by a single agency. The area drainage plan should be considered as an integrated part of the Master Plan of the area and this drainage plan shall take into account the land development planning for the region.

Some of the issues emerging from the existing scenario include:

• The rural drainage system may be designed for three days rainfall of five years frequency to be drained in three days. An appropriate area dispersal factor should be adopted for computing the run off.


• The coefficient of run off may be calculated for areas with composite land use pattern on the basis of anticipated land use in the new areas and existing land use pattern for the areas already developed.


• Where it is not possible to work out the run off coefficient due to land use policies not indicated, run off coefficient not less than 0.2 may be adopted for rural areas with flat to moderate slopes and 0.4 for steeper slopes. For urban area, run off coefficient not less than 0.6 may be adopted in absence of adequate details of the areas.

Measures should be taken to prevent the use of storm water drains for conveying sewage and dumping of solid wastes and sludge in open drains. Enforcement should be done under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Unauthorized development/encroachment/slum dwellings in the drainage system should be prohibited.

Where irrigation canal escapes including the tail escapes are out falling in the drains or in the neighboring ponds, the provision for efficient draining of surplus irrigation water by enhancing their capacity should be made during monsoon and on-monsoon period while planning for improvement in the integrated Regional Drainage System.

Provision of adequate funds should be made for upgradation and regular maintenance of the drains on the same lines as for the irrigation channels.

For more information on Drainage Sector in the NCR, please refer to documents below: