People helped themselves, no one came’: CWA slams Panchkula’s response to monsoon flooding
Civic bodies under fire as Sector 15 and 19 see homes inundated, drains choke across four more sectors, and flood-control demands go unanswered
3 min read
Heavy rainfall over the past two days in Panchkula leads to waterlogging and drainage failures in various sectors.
(File Photo)(Written by Nivedita and Amanpreet Thakur)
Heavy rainfall over the past two days left large parts of Panchkula waterlogged, with residents in several sectors reporting flooded roads, submerged parks, and rainwater entering homes.
The Citizens’ Welfare Association (CWA), led by its president S.K. Nayar, has slammed the administration for its poor preparedness and lack of response.
“We received calls from across sectors. People had water inside their homes. No one from the authorities came to help. Residents had to manage on their own,” said Nayar.
“People helped themselves. Nobody came.”
Sector 15 and 19 among the worst-hit
According to Nayar, Sector 19 saw severe waterlogging near the railway underpass, with water entering homes and flooding parks.
Sector 15, especially near Parshuram Chowk, also experienced heavy flooding.
“Some people were able to block the water, but many couldn’t. Their homes were filled,” he said.
Sumpwells no solution, say residents
While sumpwells were meant to handle water accumulation, Nayar said they had little impact.
“Yes, they stored some water, but that’s not enough. Water kept accumulating. There were no effective results on the ground,” he said.
He added that residents are not seeking sympathy — only basic measures to prevent waterlogging.
Drainage failures in multiple sectors
The CWA reported similar issues in Sectors 20, 26, 27 and 28, where water entered societies and pooled on roads. “It’s the same issue every year.
Road gullies were not cleaned. Monsoon didn’t come unexpectedly. Still, no preventive steps were taken,” Nayar said.
Letters sent, no response received
The CWA sent letters on June 28 to the Municipal Corporation, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA).
They demanded the immediate formation of flood-control teams and a central control room, and called for the publication of emergency contact details in newspapers.
As of June 30, there had been no response. “They don’t want to reply. If they reply, they will have to act,” said Nayar.
“Even after so many days, there is no reply under any circumstances.”
Repeated flooding, no permanent solution
Nayar said flooding continued on June 28 and 29, but no long-term fixes were visible.
“We face the same problems every year. Still, no permanent solution is seen. They’re not serious about the issue.”
Residents’ key demands
The CWA has listed the following measures to prevent future flooding:
• Set up a central flood-control room
• Appoint official response teams for each sector
• Publish emergency contact numbers in newspapers
• Ensure regular cleaning of road gullies
• Move from temporary solutions like sumpwells to long-term drainage planning
(The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)
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