With rains, traffic jam gushes into Millennium City

Waterlogged roads and traffic jams, which followed the first monsoon rain on Monday, were just a prelude to what the city residents are expecting to face the entire season.

Waterlogged roads and traffic jams, which followed the first monsoon rain on Monday, were just a prelude to what the city residents are expecting to face the entire season.

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Just like every year, potholes and broken patches on roads are soon to wash out the pleasure of those who have been embracing the rain as a much-awaited relief from summer.

Civic authorities blame lack of storm water drainage system and a master sewerage system for frequent waterlogging on the city roads.

"When the water accumulates, it can't settle down at a temporary outlay such as a creek or pond. It has to transport all the way to its final destination (in Najafgarh drain)," said YK Garg, superintending engineer, Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon.

Before Gurgaon was developed into a business hub, it had three creeks and more than a dozen bandhs, where rain water used to be accumulated. But, in the past two decades all these creeks have been blocked and land of bandhs has been used to develop townships.

"The sewage system is inherently flawed in Gurgaon as at many places, it can't find its way out. It is not interconnected all over," former engineer-in-chief of public health JC Yadav told Hindustan Times.

"In case the downpour is intensive and relentless for a long time, then waterlogging is likely to take place. We can't stop that from happening. It will take a while before the accumulated water finds its way out," Garg said.