With the monsoon approaching, Traffic Police in collaboration with civic agencies has started preparations on a war footing. The Delhi Traffic Police has identified over 150 vulnerable spots and stretches in the Capital prone to heavy waterlogging. The areas include Terminal 3 of IGI Airport, Nehru Place, Dhaula Kuan, Mathura Road, Bhairon Road and Aurobindo Marg, among others.
Traffic Police has forwarded the list to civic bodies to take precautionary measures. Other vulnerable stretches include T-point Anuvrat Marg, Adarsh Nagar, Hakikat Nagar, Jahangirpuri Metro station, Adhchini T-point, Anand Parbat Road, Andheria More on MG Road, Andrews Ganj, Anuvrat Marg to Qutb Minar Metro station, Ashram Chowk to Moolchand and Vasant Kunj.
“We have identified more than 156 vulnerable areas. The list has been forwarded to the civic agencies. Besides, there will be proper diversion on these identified areas; desilting of drains has been initiated. There will harsh punishment against the violators, especially in these areas,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Anil Shukla.
Taking a lesson from previous year’s waterlogging situation in the city, civic bodies have already started desilting of drains across the city. Further, steps have been taken to prevent mosquito breeding and other water-borne diseases. Civic bodies had set May 15 as deadline for desilting of drains.
“We don’t want a repeat of last year. Currently, the focus is on timely completion of the desilting work. So far, the municipal corporations have removed 2,376 metric tonnes of silt from drains. In East Delhi, more than 78 per cent drains have been desilted,” said an official in the PWD.The authorities have been asked to ensure pumps provided by the Public Works Department are operational so that civic agencies can use them in case of waterlogging. The civic agencies might start a helpline for waterlogging-related complaints.
“We are doing lot of activities to curb the menace waterlogging and its repercussions. This year we have launched a door-to-door breeding drive. There are also efforts to educate people about the problems caused by waterlogging so that they take preventive measures,” said a South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) official.