MP Rao Inderjit apologises over Gurugram waterlogging, vows to fix accountability

He said natural drains and water-flow paths were obstructed during 2004-14 development, while officials plan recharge and drainage measures.

Gurugram MP and union minister Rao Inderjit Singh on Wednesday expressed regret over the waterlogging that hit the city on August 24 and said a multi-pronged approach focused on harvesting rainwater, restoring natural drainage and fixing accountability would be adopted to address the problem.

The former Congress leader said unregulated real estate growth obstructed water-flow paths and called for encroached drains and ponds to be reclaimed. (Sourced)

Singh, who held a review meeting at the PWD Guest House with senior officials from the GMDA, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, the district administration and the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), said Gurugram’s water table had depleted to an average of 38.8 metres, making it urgent to conserve rainwater instead of diverting it to Yamuna.

The meeting followed multiple instances of waterlogging over the past two months despite civic agencies assuring that there would be no flooding this year. Singh said the flooding resulted from systemic failure, inadequate delivery by state and local agencies, and unregulated real estate development.

“I expressed regret, and I am sorry that the people, particularly children and their parents, and other citizens suffered due to heavy waterlogging as they were stuck in traffic for long hours. I have held a detailed meeting with the senior officials and have also made it clear that responsibility and accountability will be fixed in the matter in coming months,” said Singh, adding that the real push on improving Gurugram’s infrastructure will have to come from the state government.

Referring to the recurring waterlogging woes, Singh wrote on X on Wednesday that he had directed an investigation into “the negligence by the Irrigation Department and other officials”. He also instructed officials to prepare an action plan to ensure that “the people of Gurugram do not have to face such troubles in the future”.

The civic agencies have decided to install injection tubewells to direct rainwater into acquifiers, develop water bodies on unused government and municipal land, revive existing ponds and conduct satellite mapping of natural streams, drains and historical water flow paths, Singh said. A large chunk of land at the Sirhaul border near Ambience Mall has also been sought from the state tourism department for conversion into a water body.

Singh said the proposed drain to Yamuna in Palwal would first divert water towards ponds and lakes, with excess water subsequently taken out of the district.

The Gurugram MP said unregulated real estate development during the tenure of the previous government between 2004 and 2014 had contributed to the city’s waterlogging woes. He alleged that while issuing real estate licences during this period, natural river channels, drains and water flow paths were often included in development zones, gradually obstructing the city’s natural drainage routes. “I have issued directions that all natural drains, ponds and similar areas encroached on or captured by developers should be mapped through satellite imagery and reclaimed. I have also said that action must be taken against developers if public land has been encroached. There are more than half a dozen ponds which have been encroached upon, and a report has been called in this matter also,” said the former Indian National Congress MP.

Singh said he had limited authority as a member of parliament and asked the state government to slow the city’s expansion until infrastructure for the existing population was strengthened.