Flood control project at Ghata village may be delayed

Before proceeding with the work in Ghata, there is need for ground truthing and preparation of estimates.

Though the Haryana chief secretary last week approved the much awaited Ghata flood control project that will set up water harvesting structures, the project is not likely to be completed this monsoon.

Before proceeding with the work in Ghata, there is need for ground truthing and preparation of estimates. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The approval came with some modifications, as it has been decided that the execution and estimation of the project will be carried out by the forest department and not by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG).

It is also recommended that the structures be constructed in non-summer months when there is enough moisture in the ground to allow binding and settlement of stone structures. Before proceeding with the work, there is also the need for ground truthing, preparation of estimate and the final approval.

A letter to the forest department, urban local bodies, irrigation department and to the commissioner of Gurgaon, said, “Similar work worth Rs 10 crore was executed by the MCG two years ago in Ghata villge. Most of these works have got damaged and an inquiry is being held.”

In order to avoid any such circumstances, a committee will be constituted for ground truthing.

The areas that come under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900 , are forest areas. Thus, permission is required from the forest department before construction of any structures, the letter said.

The proposed water harvesting structures will hold the runoff from the Aravalli hills. The run-off water usually leads to waterlogging in areas adjacent to Ghata, Wazirabad, Silani, Haiderpur Viran, Chakkarpur and Nathupur.

However, the forest department said that from a technical point of view, planning such structures so late will only lead to wastage of public money instead of solving the problem. “We need at least six months of work post monsoon to treat the Ghata micro watershed. Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) has proposed 250 structures, but, no ground truthing of these sites were undertaken and hence it is not possible to comment on the same or ascertain practicality of the scheme,” MD Sinha, conservator of forest, Gurgoan, said.