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This is an archive article published on June 29, 2024
Day after heaviest downpour in 88 yrs, Delhi L-G visits affected areas
The Lieutenant Governor visited Taimur Nagar, Barapullah Drain, ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation), Tilak Bridge, Kushak Nallah, Golf Links, and Bharti Nagar, said officials, adding that he directed the agencies concerned to carry out desilting of drains on a war-footing so the situation did not happen again.
Saxena, officials said, has issued instructions to put in place a comprehensive plan comprising long-term measures to deal with the problems of waterlogging rather than dealing with the issue in a ‘Crisis Management Mode’ or ad-hoc basis. (X/ LtGovDelhi)
A day after Delhi came to a grinding halt following the heaviest spell of downpour in the city in nearly 88 years, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena inspected several severely affected areas on Saturday.
The Lieutenant Governor visited Taimur Nagar, Barapullah Drain, ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation), Tilak Bridge, Kushak Nallah, Golf Links, and Bharti Nagar, said officials, adding that he directed the agencies concerned to carry out desilting of drains on a war-footing so the situation did not happen again.
“Saxena directed the agencies to make the water drainage system fool-proof to avert the recurrence of such incidents in the future and expressed displeasure that none of the major drains were desilted and cleaned as part of monsoon preparations, which essentially led to heavy waterlogging with several parts of the city getting inundated in chest-deep water,” officials said.
The L-G, according to officials, also asked for the immediate removal of encroachment along the drains. Saxena first inspected the Taimur Nagar drain, where large parts of areas in Okhla, Taimur Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, Jasola, Bharat Nagar, Jamia Nagar, and neighbouring upscale colonies like New Friends Colony, Maharani Bagh, and others getting flooded on Friday.
“The Taimur Nagar drain, under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), was heavily choked by a huge quantity of silt and garbage deposit that prevented the water from flowing down…Following this, Saxena visited ITPO and Tilak Bridge drains, both owned and maintained by the Public Welfare Department (PWD), where he found a similar condition. Clogged drains due to garbage and debris dumping resulted in backflow of water and flooded the entire stretch around ITO,” said an official.
After visiting the Kushak Nallah opposite Dayal Singh College, the Golf Links drain, and Bharti Nagar, where locals complained of choked drains and sewer lines, the L-G directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials to get the desilting of the drains done immediately and deploy additional pumps as and when required to clear waterlogging in case of heavy rains.
“Saxena directed officials to deploy additional pumps at chronic waterlogging sites to prevent waterlogging and flooding. He warned that any negligence would be viewed seriously and action would be taken against the erring officials. He also expressed displeasure over the garbage dumped in the drains at all of these sites and issued strict instructions to the concerned agencies to remove all garbage, debris and sludge in 3-4 days and report the same along with photographic and video evidence” the official added.
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Saxena, officials said, has issued instructions to put in place a comprehensive plan comprising long-term measures to deal with the problems of waterlogging rather than dealing with the issue in a ‘Crisis Management Mode’ or ad-hoc basis.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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