Roads in spate, as clogged drains return to haunt Noida again

Nearly two hours of rain flooded most of the streets in Noida on Monday

The Noida authority’s claim that it had cleaned the drains here, were exposed on Monday once again as many roads were submerged with rain water. Nearly two hours of heavy rain left most of the main roads badly waterlogged thereby causing inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians. Residents in sector 19, 20, 34 and 12 among others faced problems as roads were not even visible after the rain got over.

Heavy rains on Monday hit traffic and inconvenienced commuters. (Sanil Ghosh/HT PHOTO)

Such was the waterlogging in Sector 63 that the motorists and pedestrians could not even identify roads to commute on.

“My car broke down near the police post in sector 63. Last time when it had rained I heard officials saying it will not happen again. But only thirty minutes of rain had made all roads in sector 63 ponds. Worst sufferers are pedestrians. Why cannot the Noida authority address this issue,” said Manish Singh, who works in sector 63.

On June 23, district magistrate BN Singh had inspected the drains in the city and said he was surprised to see the shoddy work. He found that drains were filled with plastic and filth, which could cause waterlogging and also vector-borne diseases. After heavy rain on July 20, Noida authority made claims that it has cleaned main irrigation drain and water logging will not take place ahead. But Monday’s rain exposed the Noida authority’s tall claims that the health department has cleaned the drains.

“I have received complaints from many areas about water logging. Sector 63 has once again witnessed water logging. We have made all efforts to clean drains and ensure no water logging takes place. Monday’s water logging suggests that we need improve our work. We will address all issues,” said Rakesh Kumar Mishra, additional chief executive officer of the Noida authority.

Read I Just 3mm rain brings Noida to a halt

Residents alleged that the authority has not taken water logging issues seriously.

“The Noida authority does not clean drains properly. Many small drains are not even connected with the master drainage network. There is a gradient problem with our drainage system. We will meet officials and suggest that the authority should make a drainage master plan without delay,” said AN Dhawan, secretary general federation of Noida RWAs (FONRWA), a resident body.