Waterlogging: Govt directs DMs, SDMs to carry out inspections

Delhi government today asked its District Magistrates and Sub-Divisional Magistrates to carry out field inspection and resolve the issue of waterlogging.
The move comes in the wake of three days of continuous rains in the city, which has flooded several streets and arterial roads and triggered traffic snarls, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
The PWD is using 256 mobile pumps to clear the water stagnated at various locations.
Delhi government has received various complaints of waterlogging from low-inclined areas. It has deployed senior officers to inspect the situation who will be available round the clock.
"All the DMs and SDMs have been asked to inspect and coordinate waterlogging problems in city. They will be on the road round the clock," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Vehicular movement was affected across the city including at major intersections, which remained choked throughout the day. Various cases of vehicle breakdown was also reported.

In some low inclined areas, rainwater flooded the basements of flats.
Expressing helplessness in permanently resolving the issue, Delhi government yesterday launched a helpline number (1800118595) by setting up a 24X7 centralised control room to register complaints about water-logging in the city.
Helpline has received a total of 225 complaints since Friday midnight till 4 PM on Saturday. A maximum of 98 complaints was received regarding PWD road followed by 68 water logging complaints on municipal corporation road.

Of these, 120 complaints were logged between midnight and noon and 105 between noon and 4 pm. Complaints have been referred to concerned nodal agencies for quick and effective action.
Government claims PWD officials are monitoring the situation in the field on a continuous basis and are providing a regular feedback to the minister about the status of attending to the complaints.
All the departments concerned have been directed by the minister to be on alert to monitor the situation given the weather forecast that the national capital may witness rains during the next three days also.
"Water drainage system is not adequate in the city. There is 160 such points which are prone to waterlogging. In last few days, I held a meeting with PWD department and instructed them to ensure that water is pumped out from the street as soon as possible," PWD minister Satyendra Jain said yesterday.