‘Shocking state of affairs every year’: Delhi HC slams authorities over waterlogging

On Friday, heavy rains lashed Delhi affecting traffic at various intersections and led to waterlogging on several roads.

Terming the constant waterlogging in Delhi as “extremely shocking state of affairs”, the Delhi High Court on Monday directed the chief secretary to convene a meeting of senior officials and list the steps taken to address the issue.

On Monday, Delhi received the third heaviest shower this season after the onset of monsoon. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C Hari Shankar took suo moto cognizance after Friday’s rains brought Delhi to a standstill and said nothing has been done to tackle the issue in 60 years.

On Friday, heavy rains lashed Delhi affecting traffic at various intersections and led to waterlogging on several roads. A DTC lowfloor bus had submerged at the Shivaji Bridge underpass.

The court directed Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash to file a report on the meeting in the next 10 days. It also sought the response of the Centre, Delhi government, Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the civic bodies.

The bench said authorities make false claims about steps taken to curtail waterlogging during monsoon every year.

The court expressed its displeasure on the fact that multiple reminders have been sent to the civic bodies for the rectification of the engineering problems, clearing of drains, but nothing has been done so far.

The bench also said various news reports have shown there is no area in Delhi that is not constantly affected by rains.

The waterlogging also leads to spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, the court said. “Waterlogging has not only has consequences but collection of water has huge impact on public health and certainly leads to the rise of vectors and vector borne diseases,” it said.

The court said the report by the CS should include the steps taken by the authorities to address the issue and must identify areas/ spots where waterlogging repeatedly happens. It also sought to know the timeline in which these steps shall be taken.

The court will now hear the matter on July 26.