The Times of India 11.09.2009
Civic bodies deny waterlogging
NEW DELHI: Even as the entire city faced acute waterlogging due to Thursday's rain, both MCD and NDMC refused to accept that there was any such
problem in the areas under their jurisdiction. According to both agencies, there was no stagnant water along their roads, except in areas where construction work was being carried out by either Delhi Metro, PWD or DJB.
Said MCD commissioner K S Mehra: "There was no problem of waterlogging in MCD areas. It rained continuously, so in some areas it might have taken a while longer for water to clear out as compared to other spots. Even the 120 vulnerable points identified by us did not face any problems. We have 600 pumps at our disposal to look into complaints of waterlogging.'' Mayor Kanwar Sain claimed that barring MCD areas, waterlogging was witnessed everywhere.
While MCD had earlier claimed that heavy rain, over a short period of time, was the cause of waterlogging in the last shower. This time it changed its tune, claiming that continuous rain, for more than 24 hours, had led to water remaining stagnant in some areas.
The civic agency spent Rs 3.75 crore on desilting of 1,500 drains this year as opposed to Rs 20 crore spent in earlier years.
MCD had identified 120 vulnerable points in areas like Sarai Kale Khan, Sanjay Enclave, Model Town, Sangam Vihar, Wazirabad, Okhla Village, Pratap Vihar, Badarpur etc. But despite their tall claims, many of these areas continued to face waterlogging problems. While MCD officials blamed construction work for waterlogging in Model Town, the overflowing sewage seemed to be the problem in Badarpur. Sangam Vihar and Okhla also faced waterlogging, according to residents of the area. But despite having 600 water pumps, Delhi continues to face traffic jams due to waterlogging.
In areas like New Rajinder Nagar, water entered homes yet again. According to general secretary of RWA, D M Narang, no pumps were sent to their areas till late on Thursday night. "We always sent complaints to MCD control rooms as houses in Rajinder Nagar are prone to getting flooded during monsoons. But no steps have been taken to prevent this.'' The situation was similar in Jangpura and surrounding areas with no help coming their way.
Meanwhile, MCD received 117 complaints of waterlogging from 8pm on Wednesday to 5pm on Thursday. Some of the areas that faced waterlogging include New Friends Colony, Bhogal to Jangpura Road, East of Kailash, ITO, Asaf Ali Road, Aurobindo Marg, Paschim Vihar, South Extension, under Moolchand flyover, Mayur Vihar, Lajpat Nagar-I & II, Rohini, Dyal Singh College, Maharani Bagh, Sangam Vihar. There were complaints of 43 trees falling in areas like Paschim Vihar, Rohini, Safdarjung Enclave etc and eight complaints of house and wall collapses from Malviya Nagar, East of Kailash-I, Tilak Nagar, Rani Bagh etc.
Meanwhile, NDMC spokesperson Anand Tiwari also maintained that besides Rafi Marg there were no problems of waterlogging. NDMC received 21 complaints of waterlogging from Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Lodhi Colony, Pandara Road, Bengali Market, Laxmibai Nagar etc, with six complaints of trees being uprooted.
Said MCD commissioner K S Mehra: "There was no problem of waterlogging in MCD areas. It rained continuously, so in some areas it might have taken a while longer for water to clear out as compared to other spots. Even the 120 vulnerable points identified by us did not face any problems. We have 600 pumps at our disposal to look into complaints of waterlogging.'' Mayor Kanwar Sain claimed that barring MCD areas, waterlogging was witnessed everywhere.
While MCD had earlier claimed that heavy rain, over a short period of time, was the cause of waterlogging in the last shower. This time it changed its tune, claiming that continuous rain, for more than 24 hours, had led to water remaining stagnant in some areas.
The civic agency spent Rs 3.75 crore on desilting of 1,500 drains this year as opposed to Rs 20 crore spent in earlier years.
MCD had identified 120 vulnerable points in areas like Sarai Kale Khan, Sanjay Enclave, Model Town, Sangam Vihar, Wazirabad, Okhla Village, Pratap Vihar, Badarpur etc. But despite their tall claims, many of these areas continued to face waterlogging problems. While MCD officials blamed construction work for waterlogging in Model Town, the overflowing sewage seemed to be the problem in Badarpur. Sangam Vihar and Okhla also faced waterlogging, according to residents of the area. But despite having 600 water pumps, Delhi continues to face traffic jams due to waterlogging.
In areas like New Rajinder Nagar, water entered homes yet again. According to general secretary of RWA, D M Narang, no pumps were sent to their areas till late on Thursday night. "We always sent complaints to MCD control rooms as houses in Rajinder Nagar are prone to getting flooded during monsoons. But no steps have been taken to prevent this.'' The situation was similar in Jangpura and surrounding areas with no help coming their way.
Meanwhile, MCD received 117 complaints of waterlogging from 8pm on Wednesday to 5pm on Thursday. Some of the areas that faced waterlogging include New Friends Colony, Bhogal to Jangpura Road, East of Kailash, ITO, Asaf Ali Road, Aurobindo Marg, Paschim Vihar, South Extension, under Moolchand flyover, Mayur Vihar, Lajpat Nagar-I & II, Rohini, Dyal Singh College, Maharani Bagh, Sangam Vihar. There were complaints of 43 trees falling in areas like Paschim Vihar, Rohini, Safdarjung Enclave etc and eight complaints of house and wall collapses from Malviya Nagar, East of Kailash-I, Tilak Nagar, Rani Bagh etc.
Meanwhile, NDMC spokesperson Anand Tiwari also maintained that besides Rafi Marg there were no problems of waterlogging. NDMC received 21 complaints of waterlogging from Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Lodhi Colony, Pandara Road, Bengali Market, Laxmibai Nagar etc, with six complaints of trees being uprooted.
