Govt expects flooding response from engineers but finds their crisis coordination somewhat waterlogged
In the event waterlogging is reported from any part of the city, it will invite departmental wrath against concerned junior engineers and assistant engineers. Acting tough after Delhi High Court’s order summoning the Chief Secretary, Delhi Government has decided to affix responsibility of the area engineers and staff to prevent waterlogging across the city during monsoon. The Government is also planning to penalise them for slacking off at work. Delhi Traffic Police has identified 167 points across the city where waterlogging is a perennial problem every year during the monsoon triggering severe traffic jams and flooding in various localities. Of these, 153 are under the Public Works Departments (PWD).
Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Dharampal told The Pioneer that the Government is planning to affix responsibility of concerned area engineers and staff for waterlogging in the national Capital. “If any failure is found on the part of the engineers and staff of the concerned area, the Government will take strict action against them and will not tolerate any lacuna on the part of the engineers and staff of the concerned areas,” he said. Commuters have a hard time navigating roads in most parts of the city during monsoon; pedestrians can be seen wading through streets flooded with rainwater and choked drains.
With monsoon a couple of months away, lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung is monitoring day-to-day desilting of drains by civic bodies to prevent waterlogging during monsoons.
Dharampal, holding the charge of the Flood and Irrigation Department, will tackle waterlogging woes in Delhi. Acting tough on engineers for failing to desilt the drains, the MCD has chargesheeted four officials, including two engineers, in Najafgarh zone on Tuesday.
On April 16 this month, the High Court had summoned the Chief Secretary of Delhi because of its non-seriousness on the issue of waterlogging seeking an explanation on waterlogging and desilting.
