Clear Kushak drain by June 10 or face action: HC to govt

The Delhi High Court today sought an undertaking from AAP government's Public Works Department (PWD) that the Kushak Nallah, which carries water from South Extension-I in south Delhi to the Yamuna, would be cleared of debris by June 10.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva issued the direction in order to ensure there would be no waterlogging in that area this monsoon in case of heavy rains and warned PWD that if the undertaking was not adhered to strict action would be taken against those responsible.
The order was passed after counsel for PWD, advocate Piyush Kalra, said as per instructions received from the department the entire work would be completed by June 10.

The court, however, said that though the department had earlier said that the work would be completed by May 31, going by the photographs filed by a resident of the area, "progress of the work is not up to the mark".
Photographs were also filed by PWD showing it has cleared the drain of debris and water was freely flowing through it.
But Manjeet Singh Chugh, a resident of the area, submitted photographs which showed that only a section was cleared of debris and a major portion of the drain was yet to be unblocked.

Meanwhile, the municipal corporation said that last year there was no waterlogging in the area, to which the bench said "it was not thanks to you. It did not rain that much last year".

The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it based on news reports of waterlogging of Kushak Nallah area of South Ex.
Earlier, the residents of the area had told the court that PWD projects to extend the Barapullah flyover and covering of the drain has resulted in construction materials being dumped inside the 'nullah'.
They also said pillars of the flyover have been placed inside the drain which has resulted in obstruction of the flow of water there and would cause waterlogging of the area in the monsoon.
The matter was listed for further hearing on July 20.