Delhi Mayor directs officials to complete desilting of MCD drains by June 15

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has set a deadline of June 15 for the desilting work of drains in the city.

In a review meeting with officials from multiple departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and irrigation and flood control, Oberoi emphasized the importance of preventing waterlogging during the upcoming monsoon season.

According to a statement from her office, Oberoi instructed the officials to ensure that desilting work on all Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) drains is completed by June 15. Additionally, she stressed the need to install both permanent and temporary water pumps in waterlogging-prone areas and to monitor sensitive locations using CCTV cameras.

To track progress and prevent waterlogging effectively, Oberoi requested that the officials submit weekly progress reports. The objective of the meeting was to review the progress of desilting work in different areas of Delhi and discuss necessary measures to tackle waterlogging.

Oberoi expressed concern about sensitive areas such as Rani Kheda and suggested the installation of permanent and temporary water pumps in such locations. She also called for a long-term plan to address the issue of waterlogging in these areas. The mayor emphasised the importance of coordination among various agencies and proposed the establishment of a communication process at the zonal level to prevent waterlogging in highly sensitive areas.

During the meeting, officials from different agencies raised concerns about the jurisdiction of certain drains. In response, the mayor instructed MCD officials to conduct a survey to resolve jurisdiction-related issues concerning these drains, as stated by her office.

Oberoi concluded the meeting by announcing her intention to conduct surprise inspections of the drains to better understand the ground reality of the situation. (With inputs from PTI)