Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Thursday chaired a meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to review the flood control preparedness of all concerned agencies in the national Capital in light of waterlogging incidents across the city. Delhi Water Minister Atishi was also present in the meeting.

While taking stock of the flooding due to breach in the Munak Canal in the Bawana area, the LG was informed that all directions issued by LG were being executed on site. The CEO of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), who had come from the site for the meeting, informed that the breach was being repaired at a war footing and will be completed by tomorrow evening. Saxena issued a total of 15 major directions to various agencies, including Irrigation & Flood Control Department (I&FCD), Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). The directions include carrying out extensive desilting of the drains, that should have been completed by June 15, and clear all choked drains on an urgent basis. 

Saxena directed the MCD to step up the monitoring of drains and impose a penalty for disposing garbage in the drains, noting that such activities were primarily responsible for choking of drains that cause waterlogging in the city.

“LG directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to ensure that there is no obstruction in the flow of the Yamuna due to construction of bridges and other activities in the floodplains, “ a statement by the Raj Niwas said.

Vice Chairman of DDA informed the LG that the authority will conduct a thorough inspection of river Yamuna in the Delhi Region on July 13 to assess and ensure that the flow of the Yamuna does not get obstructed at all during the monsoon. “The LG directed all agencies particularly the PWD, Railways and NCRTC to expedite and remove all their equipment and waste from the Yamuna at the earliest,” it read.

He directed the PWD, I&FCD and Tourism Department to immediately take up the cleaning of heavy deposits of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the Yamuna near Signature Bridge which is a highly vulnerable point during the flood.

“While the LG was informed that the management and operation of all 22 major drains falling into the Yamuna has been assigned to the I&FCD, Saxena also directed for handing over the responsibility of operating regulators on these drains to I&FCD only.  For this, he also directed the Department to hire additional manpower from other departments / agencies on diverted capacity to meet any contingency during the eventuality of flood in the Capital,” the statement stated.

Saxena was informed that 29 teams of NDRF, equipped with over 100 boats, are deployed in and around Delhi region to carry out the relief and rescue works in case of flood.

A total of 15 major decisions were taken in the meeting including permanent and temporary pumps to be installed at vulnerable spots and monitored round the clock from the Control Room, all regulators and barrage gates to be manned by operators, engineers and technicians on 24x7 basis.

Further, the directions were also given to I&FCD to remain in constant touch with their counterparts in Haryana and upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh to monitor the rainfall levels and water discharge from Hathnikund Barrage on a regular basis. He directed the Revenue Department and concerned DMs to have adequate arrangements for evacuation of nearly 25,000 persons living in the low lying area, when the Yamuna crosses the danger mark. 

The Health Department has been directed to adequate arrangements in hospitals to deal with situations arising out of the flood and the subsequent outburst of vector-borne diseases, he said.  Other directives by Saxena include agencies to constantly monitor the waterlogging hotspots in case of heavy rains, DJB and the concerned DMs will ensure round the clock drinking water supply and food for the evacuees and critically vulnerable areas including Monastery Market, Nigam Bodh Ghat, Vijay Ghat, Chilla Regulator, Yamuna Bazar and Boat Club to be monitored round the clock from the Central Control Room.