MCD, DJB in blame game over bad roads

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday put the blame of the poor state of MCD roads squarely on the shoulders of the Delhi Jal Board and other service providers.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday put the blame of the poor state of MCD roads squarely on the shoulders of the Delhi Jal Board and other service providers.

HT Image

Municipal commissioner KS Mehra said that the city’s poor drainage system has damaged its roads. Also, some service providers conduct illegal road cutting to lay down wires that adds to a bumpy ride on the city roads, he said.

Reacting to the comments Ramesh Negi, the DJB CEO, slammed the civic body for blaming other agencies for their failure. “MCD blames the Jal Board for everything. They first blamed us for contaminated water, then for cholera and dengue, and now for even broken roads. I cannot comment further,” he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mehra had said that “after every rainy season, the MCD starts repairing the damaged roads. The work is under progress even now but the civic agency has to put in an extra effort as several agencies keep digging roads in the name of essential services. To avoid continuous road digging, there should be a proper drainage master plan and separate ducts should be created for utility cables and other services.”

MCD engineer-in-chief Ravi Dass also said that roads were particularly bad in areas where the DJB had undertaken any work. He said the MCD is yet to receive Rs 46 crore as road-cutting charges from the DJB.

Meanwhile, the MCD called a special Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday in which a resolution was passed, urging Delhi Lieutenant-governor Tejendra Khanna to not approve the Delhi government’s proposal about giving PWD the charge of 500 roads, currently controlled by the MCD, if the proposal is brought to his notice.