Gurgaon: Authorities roll up their sleeves to deal with waterlogging

Keeping in mind the waterlogging in most parts of Gurgaon during monsoons last year, the district administration, HUDA, MCG and Gurgaon MLA Umesh Agrawal held a meeting on Friday under the chairmanship of Dr D Suresh, divisional commissioner, to find a permanent solution to the problem.

It was decided at the meeting that the task of desilting of storm water drains in the city would be completed before June 30.

Agrawal said, “The authorities have decided to make sure that there is no waterlogging this year in their areas. If there is waterlogging in any area, the officer in charge will be held responsible and action will be taken against the officer. Wherever rain water can’t be drained out naturally, officers have been asked to arrange for pump sets to pump out the water.”

At the meeting, the divisional commissioner directed MCG and HUDA officers not to leave the district headquarter during monsoons without obtaining prior permission from the deputy commissioner. This directive came after the MLA pointed out that during rains in the last few weeks, the officers concerned were not available when they were needed the most. “The issues will be resolved at the earliest and the city would not face waterlogging this year as per the plan. The officials of HUDA and MCG have been directed accordingly and the deputy commissioner of the city too will be vigilant about the issue,” added Dr Suresh.

The district administration has set up a flood control room for the rainy season and residents can inform about waterlogging on toll-free number 1077. The information also can be given to district revenue officer (Phone: 0124- 2322877 and 0124-2304444) or to the deputy commissioner’s office (Phone: 0124- 2321144 or 0124- 2325500).

The situation needs attention as even the councillors receive complaints on a daily basis. Sunita Kataria, councillor of Ward 14, said, “Most part of the storm water drains on New Railway Road is in my ward. The situation is really bad as the drains have not been covered yet. Residents of areas like Gurgaon village, Ashok Puri and Dayanand Colony are major sufferers because they do not have entry into the colony roads. For the past two years, we have not seen desilting being done in our area, which aggravates the situation during monsoon. We can’t even step out of our houses.”

The first showers of the season has brought relief from the summer heat but has also led to chaos at various places. The tall claims of authorities of “resurfacing of the arterial and internal roads” fall short of their mark during rains every year. The arterial roads as well as internal roads are choc-a-bloc with traffic and no timely desilting has made matters worse.