Public Works Development (PWD) Minister Atishi is likely to announce the monsoon preparedness plan for this year on Monday. According to officials, this year's plan is expected to include the robotic cleaning of drains, increased number of pumps, water suckers as well as the introduction of a WhatsApp number for filing complaints regarding water-logging. This year, the department is also likely to come up with a Standard Procedure Operation (SOP), a flood control order and a plan for handling urban flood controlling for the upcoming months, officials said. In addition, 14 executive engineers will be deployed to manage water-logging and these officers will assist the junior engineers in crisis control. "These engineers will assist the flood control room and coordinate with all other divisions. They have been directed to be ready with resources and information in case of emergency," said a PWD official. Officials have also been directed to always deploy emergency maintenance vans, mobile pumping units near the vulnerable points and water-logging hotspots to suck out the waters immediately. Further, they will ensure pumping of storm water drains, CCTV cameras, alarms in pump houses to monitor the water level, hooters, and flash lights connected to the water level indicators. Additional pumping arrangements have been made for round-the0clock arrangements to control water-logging and flooding this monsoon, said officials.
