Dealing with waterlogging in South Ex: DJB action plan sought

The Delhi High Court today asked the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit its action plan on dealing with waterlogging in the city's South Extension-I area.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva directed DJB to examine the report of an expert panel on drainage system in the national capital, submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and file its action plan for removing waterlogging in the city, specifically the South Extension-I area.
"In the particular case, we are more concerned with the waterlogging in South Extension area. Counsel for Delhi Jal Board should have the report on drainage system submitted before NGT examined and submit a plan of action to be taken with respect to it," the bench said.

During the brief hearing, advocate Suresh Tripathi, who appeared for DJB, submitted that NGT had earlier this month passed an order after accepting a report regarding restoration and preservation of the banks of river Yamuna.
The tribunal had also accepted the report of the expert committee, he said.
DJB also submitted that the action plan for the entire city was ready and it will be implemented in a phase wise manner.

The bench, thereafter, asked DJB to examine the report of the committee and directed its counsel to submit a copy of it along with the action plan.
The court was hearing a plea initiated by it on its own motion based on news reports of waterlogging in Kushak Nallah in South Extension-I here.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on February 25.
Earlier, on November 12, the court had come down heavily on civic agencies for "pumping toxins" in the blood of people in the national capital by letting "black drains" merge in Yamuna.