The Indian Express                15.04.2013

Municipal agencies put monsoon action plan in motion to prevent waterlogging

After the Lieutenant-Governor expressed his concern over the lack of preparations ahead of the monsoon season — to prevent cases of clogged drains and waterlogging — the commissioners of all three municipal corporations have asked officials to prepare weekly status reports on monsoon preparations.

The officials have been asked to work in coordination with other agencies concerned to ensure that residents do not face problems of waterlogging this season.

The corporations have also set in motion the work on their 'Monsoon Action Plan'.

The officials have been asked to contact their counterparts in other agencies such as Delhi Development Authority, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Cantonment Board, Irrigation and Flood department, Delhi Jal Board, Railways, BSES-RPL, BSES-YPL, NDPL (now Tata), Public Works Department and Central Public Works Department to prevent instances of waterlogging.

"We have been asked to coordinate inter-departmental meetings for monsoon preparedness as well," a senior official said.

In the meetings, status reports on de-silting of major drains were discussed. "All chief engineers were directed to assess the requirements of pumps and send their demand for requirements to the departments concerned as soon as possible," the official said.

"We are also working on the feasibility of preparing a zonal map marking the drains at their accurate locations. All officers concerned were directed to take pre-monsoon measures like proper de-silting of drains, cleaning of bell mouths, sump wells, feeding drains, functioning of pump sets, pump stations, availability of manpower as well as fuel and electricity supply at pumping stations before the onset of the monsoons to handle the problem of water logging effectively," the official said.

Directions have been given to ensure proper maintenance of JCBS and suction machines as preventive measures. The officials have also been asked to make proper arrangements and be ready for any emergency. "Gunny bags filled with earth, empty drums for barricading, road metal like brick ballast, lime for quick repair of roads and manhole covers should be in storage to make the preparation effective," the official said.