The Rau’s IAS Study Circle, coaching centre incident has triggered a political blame game in the national capital with sources in Raj Niwas claiming on Monday that Minister in-charge Irrigation and Flood Control trol Saurabh Bharadwaj is yet to take action on a proposal to tone up flood control measures in the aftermath of the “shameful flooding” in July last year.
According to sources, a file on a proposed comprehensive plan for desilting of drains in the city, prepared by a three-member committee comprising the MCD commissioner, PWD principal secretary and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO, has been pending with Bharadwaj for months.
However, Bharadwaj rejected the claim saying the file has been approved on April 29 this year and will be implented post Monsoon. He further said the LG does not take action against officials who do not listen to its ministers.
Lt Governor’s office also said the latest proposal was sent to the minister in April while Bharadwaj alleged that he wrote several times since February to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar for chalking out a comprehensive strategy for desilting of drains but he evaded responding to the matter. Atishi also alleged that Chief Secretary has not submitted a report on this incident so far.
The MCD is responsible for the desilting of storm water drains. It has been alleged the drainage system near the coaching centre in the Old Rajinder Nagar area was not working properly due to which a large quantity of rainwater got accumulated at the road, and gushed into the basement.
“ After sitting on the file for more than 05 months, Bharadwaj sent the file back to the Principal Secretary (I&FC) asking for a meeting of all stakeholders and demanding a Presentation. Thereafter the file was sent back to Bharadwaj on April 08, 2024. Since then the proposal is lying pending with him,” Raj Niwas said. Giving details, officials said in the aftermath of the “shameful flooding” in Delhi last year, the Chief Secretary of Delhi had called a workshop of all government departments/agencies on 23.07.2023.
“Based on the deliberations thereafter, a Committee of 03 officers in-charge of drains, sewerage, drainage and de-silting in Delhi, viz. Principal Secretary (I&FC), Principal Secretary (PWD) and CEO (DJB) and Commissioner (MCD) jointly met on August 07, 2023. It put a proposal that included Consolidation of drainage management of 18 drains under one authority for de-silting and maintenance, Master Drainage Plan for Delhi by DJB and Barrage operations. This proposal was put up with joint signature of all the 03 officers to the Chief Secretary on 08.08.2023. The proposal thereafter was sent by the Chief Secretary to Bhardwaj/CM ArvindKejriwalon 21.08.2023,” sources said.
“After sitting on the file for more than five months, Bharadwaj sent the file back to the Principal Secretary (I&FC) asking for a meeting of all stakeholders and demanding a Presentation. Thereafter the file was sent back to Bhardwaj on 08.04.2024. Since then the proposal is lying pending with him,” they said.
“LG Office is claiming the decision is awaited as file is pending with Minister. They should know that file was approved long back. “Even Order has been issued vide F.16(918)/UD/W/2024/021769737/2545 - 2575 dated 29 April, 2024 with the Subject as ‘Order assigning the responsibility, management and operation of twenty-two (22) open drains which out falls in river Yamuna to I&FC, Department as a single agency’. “And this will be implemented post Monsoons. Right now, respective agencies have to take care of desilting their drains,” Bharadwaj posted on X
The file is about 22 drains falling directly into Yamuna and it was decided that handing over can be done only after Monsoons. This file is not at all related to water logging in the city,” Bharadwaj said.
“The LG office should answer why desilting was only done on papers ? Why CS did not share the desilting reports with the Government inspite of regular written directions ? What was CA Naresh Kumar hiding ? Why CS did not conduct a third party audit inspite of written directions of Minister and orders of the High Court ?, Bharadwaj questioned.
Bharadwaj further said it was also decided that I&FC department does not have manpower and budget to take up all the drains in this season and it will be taken up in month of Sept- October 2024. The CS and all officers know this. The LG saab does not understand Delhi. We are sharing video of Additional Cheif Secretary Naveen Chaudhary in presence of CS Naresh Kumar and all top officers where he is explaining that IFC drains have no relation with Waterlogging in the city which is being discussed.