Monsoon likely to come early, only 65% of drain-cleaning work done in the city

Residents in low-lying areas such as Hallomajra, Manimajra, Burail, Dhanas, and Daria reported prolonged water stagnation during the previous monsoon, in some cases lasting up to 12 hours. In many of these locations, locals and traffic police were seen manually clearing clogged drains to alleviate the situation.

The Municipal Corporation is responsible for cleaning approximately 30,400 road gullies and stormwater drains across the city. However, nearly 20,000 have been cleared so far.

Vulnerable pockets like Mauli Jagran Complex, Charan Singh Colony, Vikas Nagar, Shivalik Enclave, Raipur Kalan, and Sunder Nagar have seen even less progress — with fewer than half the gullies cleaned — sparking fears of repeated flooding this season.

Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla stated that the work is being expedited to complete the drain cleaning before the rains hit. “Officials are on the ground, and the task will be completed soon,” she assured.

Sector 27 resident and activist R.K. Garg criticised the MC for neglecting internal sectors and focusing drain cleaning efforts only along main roads. He also alleged that in several areas, only chambers are cleaned while the actual road gullies are left unattended, contributing to repeated waterlogging.

Garg pointed out that horticulture waste is often left near drains after cleaning, increasing the chances of blockages once again. He also raised issues about the lack of skilled labour and proper equipment.

Responding to these concerns, an MC official confirmed that extra labour has been deployed and that the department is confident of completing the cleaning process by June 30.

Regarding waste being left near the drains, the official acknowledged isolated cases but emphasised that teams have been instructed to ensure that the waste is collected and disposed of properly, not left to re-clog the gullies.

The official added that while most road gullies are being cleared, heavy rain increases the water levels in the city’s three natural stormwater channels — Sukhna Choe, N-Choe, and Patiala Ki Rao — which delays drainage. Typically, however, any resulting waterlogging clears within 35–40 minutes after rainfall stops.

The city’s drainage infrastructure also plays a role. According to MC officials, the drainage systems in southern sectors (sector numbers above 30) are designed to handle only 15 mm rainfall per hour, whereas the older, northern sectors (below sector 30) can manage 25 mm per hour. This design limitation often leads to delayed water runoff in newer sectors during intense downpours.

Despite these challenges, the MC is aiming to complete 100 per cent of its monsoon readiness work by the end of June, even as manpower shortages continue to pose difficulties.