The Rekha Gupta government in Delhi has appointed senior officials to eliminate waterlogging, during the monsoon season this year. The Chief Minister further directed that responsibility should be fixed at every level, from Junior Engineers to senior officials and monitoring and accountability should be ensured at each point.
CM Gupta on Thursday held discussions regarding waterlogging conditions, cleaning of drains, repairs to the drainage system, and the condition of roads and directed that nodal officers appointed at each waterlogging point must submit concrete action plans for their respective areas within one week. Additionally, seven highly sensitive waterlogging sites will be directly monitored by the Principal Secretary and Engineer-in-Chief.
During the meeting it was informed that in 2023 and 2024, Delhi Traffic Police has identified 335 waterlogging sites under PWD in Delhi, out of which work has been completed at 284 sites, while instructions have been given to complete the work at the remaining places expeditiously. Along with this, instructions have been given to identify other potential and affected areas, not limited to the waterlogging areas identified by the traffic police. The government has directed the PWD to conduct a comprehensive survey with the cooperation of public representatives to evaluate the real situation and ensure a quick solution.
Elaborating on the details of the meeting, CM Gupta stated that the government is fully committed to addressing the issue of waterlogging in Delhi during the monsoon season. A comprehensive review of the preparations undertaken so far was conducted with senior PWD officials. The status of compliance with decisions made in previous meetings was also evaluated. Furthermore, the deployment and responsibilities of officers at all identified waterlogging sites were reviewed, with strict measures being taken to ensure that each nodal officer’s duties are clearly defined and timely action is executed.
She further stated that a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being prepared to deal with waterlogging, so that prompt and effective action can be taken in any emergency situation. The government is focusing not only on drainage but also on the cleanliness of Delhi’s roads, footpaths, flyovers, drains, and walls. The cleanliness arrangements in all areas under PWD are being strictly reviewed.
The Chief Minister affirmed her government’s full commitment to eliminating the waterlogging problem from Delhi. Of the 335 waterlogging points under PWD, 232 short-term solutions and 52 long-term projects have already been completed. Work is ongoing at the remaining 51 points, which are being addressed on a priority basis. Particular focus is being given to areas that witness severe waterlogging every year. Under this, Junior Engineers and Assistant Engineers have been assigned responsibilities as designated officers at the field level, while Executive Engineers have been appointed as reviewing officers to monitor these works. All nodal officers have been told to submit their detailed action plans within a week. The 7 most critical waterlogging points will be directly monitored by the Principal Secretary and Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, ensuring robust oversight and accountability.
The chief minister stated that a comprehensive campaign is being conducted to strengthen road infrastructure in the capital before the monsoon. Under this, work is being carried out to strengthen 101 roads under PWD, which have been directed to be completed before the monsoon. Additionally, repair work for potholes on the capital’s roads is also being completed on a priority basis. The Chief Minister issued a clear mandate to all departments to act responsibly, stating, “We will not tolerate any form of negligence. Our focus is to provide every citizen with a safe, clean, and accessible environment in every colony and street of Delhi.”
During the meeting, the chief minister issued directions were also issued to remove unauthorised posters and banners from public areas. Violators will face action under the Property Defacement Act.
CM Gupta reiterated that no negligence would be tolerated in the mission to make Delhi free from waterlogging, clean, and commuter-friendly. The Government has also prioritized the repair of roads, filling of potholes, and beautification and greening of central verges.
