UPSC coaching centre deaths: Desilting not carried out, Delhi L-G didn’t act against erring officials, says AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj
Atishi, among other Delhi ministers, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, PWD Principal Secretary Anbarasu, and other officials were present at the meeting.
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Saurabh Bharadwaj said the meeting was held on June 28. (Image source: X/Saurabh_MLAgk)As the political blame game simmers over the coaching centre flooding tragedy, Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday shared a video on social media of a meeting held last month on monsoon preparation. Alleging that desilting was not carried out properly in the city, which resulted in waterlogging across Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader claimed helplessness as he said officials did not respond to the deteriorating situation that was flagged in the meeting. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena is responsible for taking action against erring officials, he added.
Bharadwaj shared the video on X (formerly Twitter) as the Delhi L-G — in a series of posts — criticised the ruling AAP on Sunday for “(the) malaise of misgovernance that Delhi has been subjected to during the last decade or so” while condoling the death of three students in the flooded basement at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar on Saturday.
“Delhi’s truth — everyone is saying that the work of desilting in the city was not done properly. Due to this, there was waterlogging across the city, and many lives were lost due to electrocution. There is negligence on the part of the coaching institute but a big conspiracy has been hatched against the people of Delhi…,” Bharadwaj wrote on X.
“Although the department is not mine, the minister who takes care of it also agrees. The elected government can neither transfer these officers nor take action. Only the L-G can…” he further added in an apparent reference to Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi.
दिल्ली का सच – सभी कह रहें है दिल्ली में ड्रेन और सीवर से गाद निकालने का काम ठीक से नहीं किया गया।इसके चलते पूरी दिल्ली में जलभराव हुआ।
उसी जलभराव के चलते दिल्ली में करंट लगने से कई जानें गई। कोचिंग इंस्टिट्यूट की लापरवाही तो है मगर दिल्ली के लोगों के ख़िलाफ़ एक बड़ा षड्यंत्र… pic.twitter.com/fpuvcHjJdn— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) July 28, 2024
“A minister gives evidence of corruption in desilting and complains, but PWD secretary Anbarasu has not taken any action for a year. The next year, evidence is provided yet again but a spot-check does not follow. Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, the Chief Vigilance Officer, does not take any action. The meeting was held on June 28 …It is in the hands of L-G to take action,” Bharadwaj posted.
Atishi, among other Delhi ministers, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, PWD Principal Secretary Anbarasu, and other officials were present at the meeting.
In a statement, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said, “The same ministers who were boasting about cleaning drains and sewers until Saturday morning are now, on Sunday, blaming officials for the lack of cleanliness…they want to now show through this video that officials did not cooperate.”
Responding to the clip, a senior official who was present in the meeting said, “Releasing a video of the meeting is unfortunate. The Minister who released the clip is responsible for work in his department. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) comes under his department.” The Chief Secretary, MCD commissioner Ashwani Kumar, apart from the PWD Secretary, who was also present at the meeting, did not respond to requests for comment.
Reacting to Bharadwaj’s statement that the elected government has no power to take action or transfer the officers, another official said, “As per the transaction of business rules, the Minister concerned is responsible for disposal of business pertaining to his department.” According to PWD officials, the department has completed the first phase of desilting and the second phase of desilting is in the works.
“People expect Urban Development and municipal administration ministers to outline the priorities of his department for a better future,” the officials added. Amid claims that the coaching centre was flooded after the bursting of a drain pipe, DJB officials rejected the allegation and said that the road comes under MCD.
In Delhi, there are at least 11 agencies that look after roads and drains of the city, including PWD, MCD, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Cantonment Board and Delhi Jal Board.
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