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Why is Sahibi River in the News
In 2025, the Sahibi River returned to the news with the Delhi and Haryana governments launching new initiatives to revive its vanishing stretches and officially rename Delhi’s Najafgarh drain as the “Sahibi River.”
The lost 11-km stretch in Haryana and the worsening situation of Najafgarh drain have sparked concern due to urban flooding, drying wetlands, and pollution issues.
About the Sahibi River
- The Sahibi River is an ephemeral, rain-fed river flowing from the Aravalli Range (Saiwar hills, Rajasthan), traversing the semi-arid Shekhawati region, passing through Haryana, and finally reaching Delhi, where its channelized part is the Najafgarh drain.
- It originates from eastern slopes of Saiwar Protected Forest in Sikar district, Rajasthan.
- It travels a distance of about 317 km and drains its water into Yamuna River.
- Major Tributaries of the Sahibi River are Dohan, Sota, Krishnavati (historical), Narainpur Nala, Khar Nali.
- Basin Area: About 4,600 km² across Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
- Key Wetlands in the basin area of this river are Masani barrage, Basai, Bhindawas, Sultanpur National Park, Najafgarh Lake.
Geographical Aspects
- The river creates rich wetlands and riparian habitats, many now encroached or dried, causing loss of birdlife and seasonal flooding in Gurugram and Delhi.
- Tributaries like Dohan and Sota contribute during rains, though much of the basin remains dry outside monsoon seasons.
- Masani Barrage (Rewari) once regulated flow; after the 1980s, rainfall decline, upstream diversions, and illegal constructions have left many sectors arid.
- The river’s final stretch—Najafgarh drain—is now infamous for collecting pollutants from Delhi’s urban sprawl, but restoration and renaming drives aim to change public perception and policy priorities.
Quick Facts:
- Recent revival efforts by Delhi and Haryana seek to reclaim and restore lost and polluted stretches of the Sahibi River.
- Key urban wetlands along the river (Basai, Bhindawas, Sultanpur, Najafgarh) are ecologically under threat.
- The river’s paleochannels reveal evidence of Indus Valley and Late Harappan settlements, adding archaeological value.
FAQs
Q1. Where does the Sahibi River originate?
The Sahibi River originates in the eastern slopes of the Saiwar hills in Sikar district, Rajasthan.
Q2. What is the end point of the River?
It merges with the Yamuna River in Delhi through the Najafgarh drain.
Q3. Why is this River important for the environment?
It supports several wetlands that are crucial for biodiversity, migratory birds, flood control, and local hydrology.
Q4. What recent actions are underway for the Sahibi River?
Delhi and Haryana are running restoration projects, mapping vanished river sections, and preparing to rename the Najafgarh drain as the Sahibi River to boost rehabilitation.
