Aware of perennial issues of waterlogging during monsoon in the national Capital during rains, lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal has constituted a high-level committee to look after desilting of drains and open manholes in the city.
Advance desilting of drains carrying rainwater will save Delhiites from facing waterlogging problems during this monsoon. A top Government official said the committee has prepared a plan to desilt by June 15 all 163 major drains in the city, which cause massive waterlogging every monsoon.
The committee comprises various agencies, including the Public Works Department (PWD), the three municipal corporations, Delhi Cantt, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), among others. It will be headed by the PWD Secretary.
The committee will coordinate the desilting work among the different agencies so that they don't end up passing the buck among each other, he said.
"The committee has asked all agencies concerned to come up with their detailed plans on the removal of silt from drains and roads by May 26, and also report how many drains they have been desilted so far," the official said.
The PWD is in charge of 1,260 kms of roads in the Capital while the rest fall under the jurisdiction of the three MCDs.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the normal monsoon onset date in the national Capital is June 29. "As the committee has representatives from different agencies, they will work in tandem to desilt drains and cover all open manholes under their jurisdiction. The committee will closely monitoring the situation with various agencies," the official said.