1. Drainage Master plan for
Delhi
Vision
Presented to Indian Flood Control Department
UTTIPEC
Supported by OASIS Design

2. Issues…
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No segregation between sewerage and storm water infrastructure.
Monsoon rains lead to water logging and inundation in the city. Water not
harvested and allowed to go waste, even when city faces water paucity.
Increase % of paved surfaces, reducing water percolation and increasing run
off.
Colonies situated in low lying areas experience acute drainage congestion
and backwater flow.
Drains flow from adjoining states (UP and Haryana) increasing pressure on
Delhi’s drainage system.
Unauthorised colonies adding to pressure on infrastructure. Sewerage, solid
waste, stormwater all dumped together in a single drain.
Pollution of River Yamuna, which is also a major source of water supply for
the city, by drains that carry sewage, solid waste, industrial waste etc.
Contaminated ground water.

3. Water Strategies
Masterplan Policies for Natural Water Systems:
 Implement “Zero Run-off” on Roads & Parks
 Manage Storm water & Sewage/ Waste Water
Locally & Naturally.
 Create City level Watershed Management Plan and
Urban Drainage Masterplan
 Protect & Restore Natural Water Systems through
bio-remediation.
WATER

4. Impact of Urbanization
PERMEABLE SURFACES
10 %
RUNOFF
IMPERMEABLE
Roads
SURFACES Parking lots
40 %
EVAPORATION
50% DEEP
INFILTRATION
75%- 100% PERMEABLE
SURFACE
Idea : Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG) US.
30 %
EVAPORATION
Building
Pavements
55 %
RUNOFF
15% DEEP
INFILTRATION
75%- 100%
IMPERMEABLE
SURFACE

5. Only Roads & Open Greens provide opportunity for Storm Water
catchment & Infiltration.

6. Current Scenario
Storm water falling
on road surface
Quickly collected in
roadside drains
To the Naalas
To the river

7. Drainage system in the city
As per MPD-2021:
“ZERO RUN OFF”
DRAINAGE SHOULD
BE ADOPTED”
At Present drainage
system, we are doing
“100% RUN OFF”

8. All the stormwater falls on road and it is diverted
towards the closest Naala or drain.

9. PRESENT Storm water management facility in the city
Storm water
from road goes
to near by
drain and then
to river.
Evaporation
To Nearby
Drain

10. Most of the time, the existing system is clogged up

11. Minimize Runoff;
Catch Storm Water locally.
Replenish Ground Water by minimizing Runoff & increasing local infiltration/
Recharge of Ground Water.
• Utilize Parks and Open Spaces for Natural Storm
Water Management.
• Adopt a 3-Tier Approach:
To avoid Delhi Flash Floods
1: Treat at Source
(streets, parks)
2: Natural Conveyance
(minimal piping)
3: Natural Storm
Water Treatment
 Reduced FLASH FLOODS
 Recharge of Ground Water
 Less pressure and reduced sizing for Municipal Storm Water
Treatment Plants.

11

12. CONVENTIONAL ROAD SECTION:
PROPOSED ROAD SECTION:

13. STREETSEXISITNG
INSERT SWALE or
PLANTER HERE

14. GREEN STREETS-RETROFIT OPTION-Showing storm water
collection on streets

15. Roadside Greens should become Storm Water Filters & Conveyers.
RAIN GARDEN

16. Parks & Open Spaces should be zero run-off.
Parking structures should not be allowed under Parks.
Parking under parks
makes them
Integrate Parking within buildings, or
Restrict through Pricing.

17. Create City level Watershed Management Plan and Urban
Drainage Masterplan
Typical Watershed Map of a City, with multiple watersheds
Watershed map using Digital
Elevation Model (DSSDI)

18. Create City level Watershed Management Plan and Urban
Drainage Masterplan
• Integrated Watershed
Management Plan (WMP) – is to
be prepared for Delhi so that
Natural drainage systems can be
restored.
• At present IIT Delhi has been hired
by IFCD for the preparation of
drainage Master Plan. However
the Drainage Master Plan cannot
be an engineering project.
Environment department is to be
included in the preparation of the
plan.

19. Protect & Restore Natural Water Systems through bioremediation.
BEFORE
AFTER
© morphogenesis

20. Way Forward…
 Watershed mapping and catchment areas identification in GIS
using DEM.
 Integrated Storm water management strategy of each
catchment, planning for working landscapes and street
retrofitting to enable decentralization.
 segregated sewage infrastructure, solid waste management
and monitoring to ensure pollution free storm water drains.
 Mandatory rainwater harvesting at micro level.