Senior AAP leader and Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday berated the Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar for not providing the desilting status of various drains in the national Capital ahead of the monsoon season.

Referring to his earlier directions on May 25, Bharadwaj in a letter dated June 5 stated, “Your attention is invited to this office U.0. Note No.Minhealth/2024/1545 dated May 20 on the subject matter (copy enclosed) vide which it was desired to provide the desilting status of various drains under the following Departments, including Irrigation & Flood Control ( I&FC), Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Cantonment Board, apart from time lines/targeted dates of completion of desilting of various drains, along with their current status, within seven days.”

Reminding the water logging situation in Delhi of the last monsoon, the Urban Development Minister expressed his disappointment and said, “You will recall that last year Delhi had faced severe water logging problems during monsoon season. From our past experience, all the concerned Departments must be proactive this year to avoid repetition of such a situation in Delhi but not much preparations have been noticed till date.”

Further, he said, “Desilting of drains is one of the most important tasks which needs to be completed in stipulated time to pre-empt any incidents of water logging in the city. As the monsoon season is approaching fast, I had directed you to provide the desilting status of various drains/other related information within a week’s time but it is very unfortunate that no such information/any response from your side has been received till date on such a serious and urgent issue.”