Chandigarh Monsoon: Its task cut out, UT admn says all on track

In order to avoid any water-logging in Chandigarh during heavy rains, the engineering wing has started with the cleaning work.

Chandigarh, monsoon, chandigarh monsoon, monsoon in chandigarh, chandigarh adminsitration, chandigarh news, latest news, india news, chandigarh weather news, weather report

A waterlogged street in Sector 15 Chandigarh after a heavy downpour. (Source: Express Photo by Sahil Walia)

WITH THE monsoons likely to hit city soon, the UT Administration and Municipal Corporation have started with the preparations.

In order to avoid any water-logging in Chandigarh during heavy rains, the engineering wing has started with the cleaning work.

While Chandigarh Mayor Arun Sood held a meeting with the public health division and other senior officers on ways to keep the city prepared for heavy rains, the engineering wing of the Chandigarh administration has already started its work. The Mayor also sanctioned Rs 1 crore to the MC solely for monsoon preparations.

The terraces of as many as 300 government buildings have been cleaned by nearly 400 workers of the administration. All the divisions under the UT Administration have been pressed into service.

[related-post]

Watch Video: What’s making news

Chief Engineer Mukesh Anand said teams had been constituted that would have particular sectors in their jurisdiction and accountability would be fixed.

“Our staff has already cleared the terrace at all the government buildings in Chandigarh to avoid any clogging of water that could cause further problems. Teams have been constituted,” said Anand.

All the road gullies falling on V3 roads are under the administration while that on V4, V5, V6 roads are under the Municipal Corporation.

Story continues below this ad

“I took a meeting of the staff and have enhanced the percentage or workers deployed for this work by 30 per cent. I have sanctioned Rs 1 crore only for this. We have also written a letter to the administration making them clear that cleaning of V3 roads is under them,” said Sood.

To ensure proper cleaning of all the road gullies, the administration, in a communication by the MC, has been made clear that the civic body would be responsible only for V4, V5 and V6 roads.

The Mayor pointed out that there were several places where roads with administration were widened but the pipelines that were laid there were not extended and left as it is.

Last year, when water-logging was reported in major parts of the city, it was blamed that the MC cleaning staff dump garbage in road gullies leading to blockage.

Story continues below this ad

“We have directed the cleaning staff that nobody should dump garbage in the road gullies and it blocks the drains and leads to clogging of roads,” said another official.

About the cost incurred by administration in monsoon preparations, UT Superintending Engineer said it was a routine practice held every year and no cost was involved. “ No additional labour was hired for it and our own staff did the cleaning, “said the SE

However, residents were apprehensive about the preparations. “It is an yearly ritual for the authorities. They claim to male preparations but every year we witness water logging on roads. A proper plan should be chalked out after seeing what the exact problem is, “ said Suraj Sharma, a resident of Sector 22.

Another resident said the civic body has been ignoring the wild growth in the vacant plots.

Story continues below this ad

“It is the duty of the horticulture wing to ensure that all wild growth is cut. In the monsoons, such growth makes the area a breeding place for mosquitoes,” said Shashi Ahuja. The complete area of Sector 31 is facing this problem. Most of the plots there are lying vacant and one can see wild growth.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram