New Delhi (India), March 16: Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena, along with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Public Works Department (PwD) Minister Parvesh Verma, conducted an on-ground inspection of three major drains in the national capital—Barapullah, Kushak, and Sunehri Pullah—on Sunday. The team reviewed the condition of these drains and issued strict instructions to officials to ensure that desilting work is completed well before the onset of the monsoon season.
As part of preparations to tackle the waterlogging issues that often occur during the monsoon in various parts of Delhi, the newly formed government is prioritizing drain cleaning. Both the LG and CM Gupta took a hands-on approach to oversee the progress of the cleaning work, emphasizing timely completion.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that this year, the government aims to eliminate waterlogging problems. She said, “This year, there should be no waterlogging in the state, and that is why we both decided to inspect the major drains of the state together. The coordination with the government is going well, and after the instructions from the Chief Minister, the work will be completed on time. This will help prevent waterlogging issues for Delhi residents.”
In the past, disputes between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi government over accountability for waterlogging led to residents bearing the brunt of the issue. However, with the new government in place, CM Gupta emphasized better coordination between authorities to ensure swift desilting.
“The drains were never properly maintained or cleaned by previous governments. There was no clear accountability between agencies. We have now assigned the responsibility of desilting to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. Our top priority is to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon, and we are working on it relentlessly,” the Chief Minister added. She also highlighted the need for regular updates from MLAs regarding the progress of desilting and sewage management projects.
Addressing the city’s infrastructural challenges, CM Gupta noted that Delhi was developed in an unplanned manner, which resulted in poorly designed drains with inadequate chambers and outlets. “These issues cannot be solved by merely holding press conferences. We have been working as a team since early morning to inspect drain outlets and ensure that people of Delhi do not suffer from waterlogging,” she said.
The government is committed to long-term solutions, with the Chief Minister emphasizing that projects should be planned with a vision for the next 100 years. The primary goal, she reiterated, is to ensure the welfare and comfort of Delhi’s residents, ensuring they are not inconvenienced by waterlogging during the coming monsoon season.