With most drains clogged and no arrangements being made by the Municipal Council and the Haryana Urban Development Authority till date to check waterlogging, Panchkula has a long way to go before it can claim to be prepared for the rainy season. Newslinetakes a look at the situation In 2007, clogged drains of Panchkula had been cleaned and two nullahs de-silted in the first week of May. Even then, there was a complete chaos on the roads after the monsoons arrived. This year, none of these tasks have even started yet as preparation for the rains, which have already arrived. As a result, residents fear that the scenario will be far worse than what it was last year. The reason for the delay in starting the cleaning work is being attributed to the "lackadaisical attitude' of the HUDA and a delay in the forming of the new MC. What residents say "Waterlogging and the huge potholes on the roads had exposed the mismanagement of the two civic bodies and made commuting a harrowing task last year. That too, after the cleaning of all drains in the entire city and the de-silting of the two seasonal nullahs had been done at least a month before the rains started. This time, while rains have already started, the authorities are yet to start any preparation,' said Rajesh Yadav, a resident of Sector 12, Panchkula. Kanta Mahajan of Sector 17 had a similar opinion. She said the condition is worse in her sector, which is adjacent to Rajiv and Indira colonies. "Due to the presence of two big colonies housing thousands of hutments near our sector and with almost all stormwater drains and manholes either broken or blocked, the entire area starts stinking during the rainy season, creating an unhygienic condition and breeding germs for several diseases.' She added that while such a condition is experienced every year, the authorities fail to take prior action to save them the harassment. Rajiv Chopra, a resident of Sector 2, said: "As heavy rains lead to the flooding of the two seasonal nullahs, their de-silting is a must before monsoon hits the region. HUDA and the MC and send workers for the purpose every year, but this time they seem to be in no mood to work in this direction.' Officials say Officials of the MC and HUDA chose to pass the buck on each other when asked why no drain and nullah has been cleaned yet. "Cleaning of drains, stormwater channels and curve channels is the responsibility of HUDA. We have made both verbal and written requests to HUDA officials to get the work done immediately as heavy rains can start any moment,' said MC Executive Officer O P Sihag. On the other hand, a HUDA official said on the condition of anonymity: "Though it is the MC's responsibility, we will ensure that the work in this regard is started soon.'