Waterlogging panel formed
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09/08/2008
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Tribune (New Delhi)
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 8
Leader of the house in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Subhash Arya and Standing Committee chairperson Vijender Gupta have said that the MCD has appointed a high power co-ordination committee under the chairmanship of Mayor Arti Mehra to monitor waterlogging on the city's roads.
All departments of the Delhi government and other government agencies are members of the committee.
The officials have already been given a list of the areas that are vulnerable to waterlogging. They have also been apprised of the actions to be taken by them to check the menace. But it is unfortunate that the departments and the officials concerned have not yet taken any action leading to chaotic conditions on roads during heavy rains, the MCD leaders said.
The leaders pointed out that many roads in the city including, Ring Road and Outer Ring Road were flooded due to today's rainfall and the inaction of the Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Ring Road near Raj Ghat and IGI Stadium, Outer Ring Road from IIT flyover to Rao Tula Ram Marg, Aferica Avenue Marg, Kalkadas Marg near Qutab Minar, Yamuna Vihar, Karawal Nagar, Loni Road, LIG-MIG Flat, Naveen Shahdara, Gandhi Nagar, Lado Sarai Road, Mathura Road-Bhogal, RUB Badarpur, some portions of Najafgarh Road and Kalindikunj Road were affected by waterlogging.
Arya and Gupta said that these roads did not lie within the MCD's jurisdiction, yet the Corporation had deputed its men and machines including suction machines, and pumps at waterlogged points.
Subhash Arya alleged that the PWD drains were choked and water could not flow properly. Due to the huge quantity of water coming from the IGI Stadium and ITO bridge side, the ways were submerged, said Arya. The PWD used to provide pumps at the vulnerable point, but this time it has not done so, he alleged. The MCD has provided three high capacity pumps to discharge the accumulated water.
He said that waterlogging in some areas of Najafgarh road near Tilak Nagar police station, Janakpuri (West Metro station) and opposite Shanker Garden took place as the Delhi Metro damaged the storm water drain.
Vijender Gupta said that he was surprised that the Ring Road near Raj Ghat got flooded creating chaotic conditions. He said that the area was neither a part of the MCD's action plan nor, was it mentioned in the MCD's vulnerable point list. He held the PWD responsible for the menace.
Kalindi Kunj Road is a PWD Road. Waterlogging was noticed opposite the petrol pump around 6.30 in the morning.
However, the situation was brought under control in two hours. The waterlogging was due to poor drainage system. The condition of road under bridge in Badarpur was no different.
The Trans Yamuna area, Loni Road, LIG and MIG Flat suffered heavily due to the flood department's inaction. Shahdara, Navin Shahdara, Yamuna Vihar faced waterlogging. Due to the inadequate drainage system, waterlogging took place at Gokul Puri, Bhajan Pura, Bela Road, Khari Bawli, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Sadar, Paharganj, Punjabi Bagh and Rohini areas.