Rain check: Mohali set for monsoon blues - Hindustan Times
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Rain check: Mohali set for monsoon blues

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | By
Jun 27, 2017 10:16 AM IST

Too many agencies, inadequate drainage, poor cleaning and rising level of roads is setting up the township for monsoon blues this year as well. HT studies the trouble spots and solutions

Come clouds and the monsoon blues hit the residents of SAS Nagar. Even though the authorities claim to have prepared for the rains by clearing 90% of the road gullies, the recent showers exposed their lie. Roads turned into mini rivulets, markets were waterlogged, and traffic moved at a snail’s pace.

The road dividing Sector 69­70 was inundated after heavy showers last week(HT Photo)
The road dividing Sector 69­70 was inundated after heavy showers last week(HT Photo)

This is an annual affliction. While residents get ready with their umbrellas and raincoats, the authorities blunder around. It’s a case of too many agencies and too little accountability. Four different agencies are tasked with monsoon preparedness in SAS Nagar. They include the Municipal Corporation, Punjab water supply and sanitation department, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and Punjab State Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC).

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This year, the civic body claims to have fast-tracked the work of cleaning the sewerage and drainage system, but the residents say the opposite. They complain that the road gullies on the internal roads of sectors and phases are blocked.

Also read | Rain check: Managing monsoon in Chandigarh

In 2008, then municipal council (now corporation) had claimed to have cleared a proposal for upgrading the drainage system in SAS Nagar under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. GMADA had also tied up with the urban drainage department of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, to come up with solutions to the ineffective storm water drainage system. But the situation on the ground remains unchanged.

Every year, as per the protocol, the public health department submits the estimates for the cleaning of road gullies and the MC approves the funds required. But some of the sectors and phases are still managed by GMADA.

Covering a geographic area of 1189 sq.km, the district was created by carving out two blocks (Sialba Majra and Kharar) from Ropar district and one (Dera Bassi) from Patiala district. While the Ghaggar river and its tributaries form the natural drainage system for the Dera Bassi block of the district, its north-eastern part is drained by Siswan Nadi, Jayanti Devi Ki Rao and Patiala ki Rao, which emerge from the Shivalik Hills.SAS Nagar’s storm water drains into the Lakhnour choe.

HOW TO FIX IT

Phase 4 & Phase 5 roads: Stagnant water is a perpetual problem for people living in these areas during monsoon for the last ten years. The problem is caused due to faulty structural design. Most houses in Phase 4 and 5 are low-lying with a low plinth level. But the roads are at a higher level. Consequently, water doesn’t reach the drains in Phase 5. Solution: clean the drains. level the roads in a way that water drains well.

Phase 3b1 and 3b2: waterlogging is an annual problem in the area. the residents have to wade through the water flowing on the roads. the parking in the markets also gets inundated, making it impossible for people to navigate the area. Solution: re-design the siphons for free flow of water. construction of 3 underground reservoirs between phase 3 b2 and 7 (done).

Industrial area, phase 7,8, 9: the flooding of roads is commonplace in the industrial area. it doesn’t take long for water to accumulate in phase 8 industrial area. even the sewage pipe lines get blocked. Solution: the pipelines need to be repaired and manholes cleaned regularly, particularly during the rainy season.

Phase 11: The residents of LIG houses dread the monsoons as water often enters their houses due to the low plinth level. residents complain the lakhnour choe, the main outlet, is seldom cleaned. Solution: clean the road gullies and construct a proper drainage system to drain out water.

Mataur Village: Every monsoon, rain finds its way into houses here. Public health and MC officials claim the unauthorised structures and cattle are the root of the problem as the road gullies remain blocked due to cowdung. Solution: clean the road gullies and remove cowdung from streets.

STUDY BY PEC

Engineers from the PEC University of Technology had conducted a study to find out the problem in the city’s drainage and suggest solutions. Pointing out that the drainage system of the city was very old, they had called for laying a 26-km new pipeline with a diameter of 80mm to 100mm to allow discharge of large volumes of water. The team had also mooted a rainwater harvesting system and discharge of water into Patiala Ki Rao.

Consequently, the MC prepared a detailed project report, which is pending with the Punjab government for the last six months. The cost of the project is expected to be around Rs 165 crore. MC now claims to be undertaking reconditioning of sewer and storm water drainage. The lining will be repaired to increase the carrying capacity of the lines. “We will do re-conditioning of the pipes but no digging will be done to replace the pipes as wires and pipes of many other service operators such as water supply, telephone et al are laid alongside.”

Engineers in the public health department says waterlogging takes place only when the intensity of rain increases and the drainage system is unable to cope with the flow. The drainage is directly linked to the final outlet, the Lakhnour choe which has been encroached upon. It is also seldom desilted or cleaned. The result is waterlogging.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Punjab water supply and sanitation: department and public health: Phase 1 to 11 , Sector 70, 71, Industrial Area sector 1 to 5, Shahimajra, Madanpura and Mataur

Direct control of MC: Industrial area Phase 6, 7, 8, 9 and Mohali village

PSIEC: Sector 74, 75, Phase 8B, Industrial Area GMADA: Sectors 76 to 80 and newly developed 77 and 78, where sewage overflows

FACTS

8,900: Number of road gullies

950 under MC

Official claim: 90% of the road gullies have been cleaned

Rs 1 crore: Annual outlay for monsoon preparedness in SAS Nagar

READERS SPEAK

Most of the road gullies are blocked. We’ve never seen any machines being used. At times, the rain water gets mixed with sewage. EWS flats in various parts of SAS Nagar and Phases V and VII are the worst hit. ---Paramjit Singh, President, Citizens Welfare and Development Forum, Phase VII

Waterlogging in Phase 5 is a perpetual problem. We face it year after year. Residents of low-lying areas are the worst affected during rains. Lack of proper drainage system and potholed roads compound the problem. ---Baljit Kaur, President of HE quarter welfare association, Phase 5

The Phase 11 flats in the 1301-to-1457 block are in a bad shape. The drainage pipes are very small. We had prepared estimates for expanding the pipe size, but to no avail. GMADA repairs have also gone waste. This problem has been lingering for 10 years. ---SS Barnala, President, RWA, Phase 11

We have been facing waterlogging for years now. There is waterlogging on the road between Sectors 78 and 87. Often, sewage gets blocked and starts overflowing. The poor condition of the roads adds to the chaos during the monsoons. --- Krishna Mittu, President, RWA, Sector 78

The road gullies are not cleaned properly. They only clean the upper surface of the gullies but the cross-section remains blocked. The road level too is rising every year due to patch work. Despite several requests, GMADA has failed to level the roads. ---K L Sharma, President, RWA, 10 marla block, Phase 3A

EXPERT SPEAK

The problem is created by the MC and GMADA. The sector-dividing roads are above the plinth level of the houses because they are laying pre-mix without considering the plinth level of the houses. About 25 years ago, there was hardly any waterlogging here. There are two natural choes, one is passing along the PCA stadium on the road dividing Phase 9 and 10, 66 and 67. The other one is Patiala ki Rao behind Balongi village. These two are sufficient for drainage of water. But the rise in sector-dividing roads obstructs the natural flow of water and it does not reach the choe. An open drain has been constructed near old Amartex light point which will help. Instead of discharging all the water in Lakhnour choe, they should divide it between in Patiala ki Rao and another choe. --- NS Kalsi, former XEN. Greater Mohali Area Development Authority

SAS Nagar is adjoining a hilly area,and there is a slope towards SAS Nagar. The rain water coming from hills flows down to the nullahs due to the slope. The underground absorption and seepage is less because the ground is not levelled. An underwater reservoir should be constructed, and underground water charging wells should be made and connected with storm water. Rain water we should be collected in surface tanks for irrigation. ---GR Jakhu, Ex Chief Engineer, Punjab Urban Development Authority

FACE TO FACE | ALMOST 90% OF THE ROAD GULLIES HAVE BEEN CLEANED: JAGJIT SINGH DHAMI, EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PHD, SAS NAGAR

Executive engineer, Public Health Department, SAS Nagar, Jagjit Singh Dhami (HT Photo)
Executive engineer, Public Health Department, SAS Nagar, Jagjit Singh Dhami (HT Photo)

What are the standard measures you take before monsoon?

We prepare an estimate and submit it to the Municipal Corporation. After the budget gets clearance, we float tenders for cleaning the road gullies. This process usually begins around May. The gullies are cleaned both manually and with suction pipes. Almost 90% of the gullies have been already cleaned up.

Why is waterlogging a perennial problem in SAS Nagar?

There is no structural problem. Generally, the water drains within 15 to 20 minutes. When the rainfall is more than double, it takes time for the water to recede.

In SAS Nagar, the gullies are constructed on the roadsides, and the water is drained through a pipe into the Lakhnour choe.

What are the new steps you are taking to combat waterlogging this year?

Every year we set up teams and get the road gullies cleaned up. We also depute JEs and SDOs for this task.

(SECOND PART OF FIVE-PART SERIES, NEXT: PANCHKULA )

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