To address the issue of stormwater runoff during heavy rain in Gurgaon, Union Power and Housing Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Friday announced plans to build a new drain linking Gurgaon to Palwal via Nuh. The drain will direct rainwater to the Yamuna river, supplementing the existing Najafgarh drain, officials said, adding that no deadline has been specified at this stage for the completion of the project. Discussions in this regard were held during a meeting with civic officials, attended by Haryana Industry and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh, officials added. Lal said that Gurgaon's waterlogging issue requires additional drainage solutions, as the Najafgarh drain has limited capacity. "The proposed drain to Palwal is a key alternative. The Union government supports the project,” he added. Lal instructed the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority and the Irrigation and Water Resources department to prepare a detailed report on water bodies on government land in and around Gurgaon. Singh, also the Badshahpur MLA, noted that the project will provide water for agriculture in Nuh and reduce pressure on the Najafgarh drain, helping resolve the waterlogging issue. On Wednesday, Gurugram Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya had said that to address waterlogging issues before the next monsoon, repair and desilting of the city's sewage and drainage network will begin by December 31 and be completed by April 2026. Large parts of Gurgaon were inundated in this year’s unusually heavy monsoon.
