New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Delhi’s Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Ankush Narang, on Wednesday wrote to Mayor Pravesh Wahi and Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, seeking immediate measures to tackle waterlogging across the city.
In his letter, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader demanded zone-wise data on drain desilting, identification of all waterlogging-prone locations, emergency pumping arrangements at hospitals, schools and residential colonies, joint inspections with the power department to prevent electrocution incidents, and action against officials and contractors found negligent.
Narang alleged that widespread waterlogging after recent spells of rain had exposed gaps in the BJP government’s monsoon preparedness.
“If 90 per cent of the drains were cleaned, how is there waterlogging across Delhi?” he asked, adding that roads, colonies and public facilities had been affected in different parts of the city.
Narang also referred to flooding at Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital during the first spell of monsoon rain and said the administration should ensure such incidents are not repeated. Recalling last year’s fatal flooding incident in Rajendra Nagar, he said waterlogging posed serious risks to public safety and required urgent intervention.
In the letter, he said widespread flooding after the initial monsoon showers raised questions over the effectiveness of the desilting exercise and urged the civic body to make public the basis of its claim that 90 per cent of drains had been cleaned.
Mayor Wahi, however, said the civic body’s preparations this year were expected to result in an improved situation compared to the previous monsoon.
“We welcome the monsoon. I won’t claim that there won’t be waterlogging anywhere, but the situation would be better than last year,” Wahi told PTI Videos.
He said the MCD and the Delhi government had undertaken extensive desilting of MCD and PWD drains before the monsoon and ensured connectivity between the drainage networks to improve water discharge.
According to official data, the MCD’s Central Control Room received eight complaints between 2 pm and 6 pm on Wednesday, including four related to waterlogging and four concerning fallen trees.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said several parts of Delhi received light to moderate rainfall during the day. Between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, Safdarjung recorded 26 mm of rainfall, Lodhi Road 30 mm, Pusa 30.5 mm, Najafgarh 38 mm and Mayur Vihar 26.5 mm, while Palam received 27.9 mm and Ayanagar 22.2 mm. PTI MSJ MDO MDO
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