To deal with the perennial waterlogging and traffic problems during monsoon, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a crucial meeting on Monday.
The national Capital has 147 major vulnerable points in terms of waterlogging and the Delhi Government will do extensive mapping aiming to enhance the drainage system. “We can enlist all possible vulnerable points and if solutions for these points are planned and worked like Minto Bridge, then we can make Delhi free from waterlogging.” “Will enhance Delhi’s drainage system and make it world class,” said CM Kejriwal.
Amid the complexities of multiple agencies in Delhi, Kejriwal cited Minto Bridge work and appreciated agencies’ effort to resolve. “There’s a folklore-benchmark in Delhi,it is said that the day Minto Bridge gets waterlogged, that day marks the onset of the monsoons. Minto Bridge this time is the talk of the town. Our officers and engineers gave their best towards ensuring the Minto Bridge does not get waterlogged. I am not saying so. The people of Delhi are!”
Kejriwal also took to Twitter to share his vision with the public. “Conducted a review meeting with PWD, MCD, DJB, I&FC chaired by the LG on the drainage system of Delhi in view of the monsoons. “Will implement a system like Minto Bridge at other vulnerable points Drains and sewers will be regularly cleaned.Will make a world-class drainage system in Delhi.”
Emphasizing on the best designed drainage system, Kejriwal said that there a lot of places in Delhi where drains of the Jal Board and the MCD converge, there is no coordination in them. “I would like to suggest that PWD acts as the nodal authority and undertakes an exercise to redesign Delhi’s drainage system. If an excellent design is in place and all the agencies can work together on it, then we can implement it.” “Once such a system is in place, we would only require de-silting it once a year and the drainage system will be free of liability. So we should work on that prospect. We need to also popularise our grievance helpline numbers with the people of the city,” the CM added.
Public Works Department (PWD) minister Satyendar Jain asked the agencies to be fully prepared for combating any problems that could be faced and said, “In the next three days we are going to have excess rainfall, so we need to be fully prepared to handle the situation. We not only have to be alert during the day but extra alert during the night; we have over 1500 pump sets we should deploy them all.” “Our officers and engineers across departments need to be available and alert 24x7 because the next few days are going to need more attention,” he added.