We are monsoon-ready, claim municipal bodies

NEW DELHI: In a bid to tackle water-logging, common during monsoons, the authorities including the Delhi government and municipal corporations have set up control

NEW DELHI: In a bid to tackle water-logging, common during monsoons, the authorities including the Delhi government and municipal corporations have set up control rooms and issued helpline numbers for lodging complaints.

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According to senior officials, while the Delhi government has conducted meetings with the municipal bodies and other civic agencies such as Public Works Department, Delhi Jal Board, flood control and irrigation department, have been assigned responsibilities for prevention of vector-borne diseases and de-silting of drains before June 30.

Municipal officials said that the three civic bodies have already procured equipment like jetting-cum-suction machines and portable pumps to ensure there is no water logging, the municipal corporations have also procured anti-dengue medicines in case last year’s repetition.

“We have asked the officials to ensure that de-silting is completed before June 30,” said Rajesh Bhatia, deputy chairman, North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

As per municipal corporations, they have removed more than 1 lakh tonne of silt from the drains under its jurisdiction.

The municipal corporation spends over ` 240 crore annually on de-silting and makes claims of a water-logging free monsoon every year. The reality, however, remains far from it.

Senior leaders claim while the corporations have completed the process of de-silting, the Public Works Department (PWD) has only completed 25% of the work.

“All major roads and drains in the city fall under the jurisdiction of the PWD. However, the work on the drains has not been completed,” said Jitender Choudhary, Standing Committee Chairman, EDMC.

The officials of the PWD however said that most work on the drains has been completed and whatever remains will be completed by June 30.