Minister’s Visit to Connaught Place
On Sunday, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma visited Connaught Place in New Delhi. Minister Reviews Flooding in Connaught Place just a day after heavy rains caused flooding in various parts of the city. Verma looked at the outer circle of Connaught Place, a popular shopping and business area, which often gets waterlogged.
During his visit, Verma noticed that the same area was flooded the night before. There was a 100-meter stretch near Kake Da Hotel that was underwater. He said, “I did not record any video. I drove myself and was outside this site where a 100-metre stretch was waterlogged.” Some shops even had water inside them.
Aftermath of the Heavy Rains
The heavy rains impacted New Delhi greatly. On Saturday, eight lives were lost due to monsoon-related incidents. Seven people died when a wall collapsed in Jatpur. Tragically, a two-and-a-half-year-old child fell into an open sewer.
Verma expressed sadness about the losses, calling it “extremely unfortunate and heartbreaking.” He assured reporters that the government will do everything possible to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Drainage System Issues
Verma explained some of the reasons for the flooding. He pointed out that the drainage system in the city is very old. It is a “century-old British-era barrel drainage system.” Over the years, construction has narrowed the drains. This narrowing has affected the flow of water during heavy rains.
Verma mentioned, “We have asked PWD to conduct a detailed point-by-point study to find permanent solutions to such points.” This means they will carefully examine the areas most affected by flooding to find better ways to handle water.
Waterlogging Spots in the City
New Delhi has 34 critical waterlogging spots. Some of these places include:
- Zakhira
- Minto Bridge
- Moolchand
- ITO
Verma noted that these areas faced “relatively lesser waterlogging” this year compared to the past decade. While this may sound positive, many people still suffer during heavy rains.
AAP Raises Concerns
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized Verma for being late to the scene. Saurabh Bharadwaj, the AAP Delhi president, stated, “The minister woke up 24 hours after the city drowned.” He suggested that instead of checking flooded roads, Verma should have visited families affected by the tragedies.
Bharadwaj also alleged that there was corruption related to the cleaning of the sewers. He claimed that important documents were being destroyed to hide this corruption. He mentioned an RTI (Right to Information) application that he had filed, which indicated that the Chief Secretary’s office did not receive his complaint about a third-party audit on the desilting of drains.
“How can the Chief Secretary claim not to have received my letter when copies are with all media?” Bharadwaj asked. He said last year’s desilting audit report was not shared, and there has been no audit this year either. He believes this is a way to destroy evidence of wrongdoing.
BJP’s Response
In response, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused Bharadwaj of twisting facts to suit his narrative. Sachdeva pointed out that Bharadwaj mentioned a 2024 Delhi High Court order. This order addressed the LG and Chief Secretary skipping a third-party audit of drain desilting.
Sachdeva questioned Bharadwaj’s claims, highlighting that between 2015 and 2018, the Kejriwal government failed to desilt drains. This situation became serious enough that an NGO had to ask the High Court for help.
Regarding Bharadwaj’s letter to the Chief Secretary, Sachdeva mentioned that the Chief Secretary’s office claimed they hadn’t received any such letter. He accused AAP of focusing on social media instead of following the official process for communications.
The Need for Better Drainage
It’s clear that New Delhi needs to improve its drainage system. The current methods are outdated and cannot handle the heavy rains that often flood the city. Addressing this issue is crucial not just during monsoon season, but for the safety of every resident.
As the rains continue, the government must take immediate action to prevent further loss of life and property. The community is hoping for effective solutions that will make the streets safer for everyone.
Conclusion
The recent flooding in Connaught Place has highlighted serious issues with New Delhi’s drainage system. Local leaders are calling for urgent reforms. Residents want assurance that they will be protected during the next rains. It’s time for all parties to work together to find lasting solutions.
