“Road network in Delhi encompasses different zones of Authority like Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, New Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Development Authority, NHAI, apart from the Delhi Jal Board, which is responsible for the drainage of storm water and sewage. Each year after the monsoons, a debate and confusion ensues as regards a particular agency’s responsibility for keeping roads free of water. However, the end result one witnesses is acute water logging, deep pot holes, portions of the roads getting sub-merged and side-walks becoming unusable, causing immense hardship to the general public.” Said Mr Kapila.
“Apart from the suggestion for creating a Unified Nodal agency and a multi-agency control room consisting of DDA, PWD, DJB, all three MCD’s, NDMC ,DMRC NHAI and Power Discoms BSES & NDPL to tackle the drainage problems of Delhi, with representatives from each Agency for initiating appropriate long and short term measures, there is an urgent need to find immediate solutions to contain the damage due to flooding of our roads.” Said Mr Kapila.
“Transferring the management and maintenance of roads and drainage to a single authority will help in fixing accountability. Apart from setting up nodal agency a long term solution with proper network of drainage lines with adequate capacity for storm water and sewage drains is an immediate necessity.” He added.
“However, till such time the long term measures are completed, immediate short term measures must be simultaneously undertaken at locations witnessing water logging. Water Harvesting is one such measure which will immediately remove excess water through harvesting pipes thereby relieving the road stretch from flooding. The agencies named above can identify these locations for water harvesting. This will eventually make all our roads usable during monsoon and thus alleviate the problems of the general public.” MR Kapila Said .
“Delhi Metro Rail despite having Rain Water Harvesting system on various routes also needs a separate drainage system to channelise rainwater released from the Metro’s elevated tracks to save roads from being damaged and also help in water harvesting” added Mr Kapila.
“Delhi Metro’s elevated tracks are also partially adding to the city’s drainage problems, as rainwater from the elevated structures flow with force on roads, creating more problems for choked city drains and causing hardships to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Proper disposal of this water would reduce waterlogging on several stretches in the city,” said Mr. Kapila.
