LG VK Saxena
– Photo : Amar Ujala
Expansion
Barapula, Sunhari and Kushak drains built to drain flood water from the city will be cleaned in 15 days. On Sunday, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena went to inspect the drains along with officials. During this, he found the drains clogged. Seeing this, he expressed displeasure. Also, he instructed to clean them in 15 days.
On this occasion, the official said that during the inspection, the LG found debris, silt and construction and demolition waste in these drains. These drains have not been cleaned for many years. These drains play an important role in draining flood water from the city. Due to lack of cleaning in them, large parts of South East and New Delhi suffer from waterlogging. These drains belong to the Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The LG has directed the concerned District Magistrates to submit a daily report of cleaning work along with photographs. In Barapula drain owned by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, only five out of 12 creeks under the culvert were found to be operational. One of these creeks was also closed due to encroachment by slums. In Sunhri drain, three out of six creeks were completely closed. In Kushak drain, only four out of seven creeks were found open.
Waterlogging occurs in these
Due to blockage of drains, water backflows. Due to this, Nizamuddin, Lodhi Road, Jangpura, CGO Complex and other surrounding areas get waterlogged.
encroachment will be removed
The LG visited the historic ASI protected old Barapula bridge. He found that there was heavy encroachment on it. He ordered the DM (South East) to remove all encroachments by taking joint action with I&FC, MCD, PWD and ASI. He also directed to restore the bridge to its original condition within a week.
cleaning of drains started
After the instructions of LG, cleaning of drains started from Sunday itself. Four JCB machines were deployed on the first day. LG also instructed the officials to fence the drains so that garbage and debris cannot be dumped in the drains. He asked the officials to monitor the drains through CCTV cameras and take action against those who dump garbage in the drains.
Prepare long term solutions
The LG has directed the officials to prepare a comprehensive plan with long-term measures to deal with the problem of waterlogging. He said that the way things have been happening till now will not work.