Delhi Rains: Govt issues this year’s Flood Control Order

The Delhi government has issued the Flood Control Order for this year, days after Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena flagged that it had not been issued.

After Delhi was hit by incessant rains on Friday, leading to waterlogging and loss of lives, Saxena expressed shock that the Flood Control Order and de-silting of drains, which should have been completed by June 15, were still pending.

“The Flood Control Order, normally issued after the Apex Committee meeting chaired by the Hon’ble chief minister, is pending with the Hon’ble minister,” he had said.

The newly issued Flood Control Order states that a Central Flood Control Room has been established and will remain operational until October 15 or the end of the monsoon season, whichever is later. This control room will receive flood warnings and related information and submit flood-situation reports to the LG, chief minister, minister of irrigation and flood control (I&FC), chief secretary, divisional commissioner, and secretary (I&FC) every evening. It will also issue necessary flood warnings, and directions for evacuation, and arrange relief supplies.

Regional flood control posts will be set up at 16 key locations along the Yamuna River, the Najafgarh drain, the supplementary drain, the Jahangir Puri drain, and the Chilla regulator on the Shahdara Outfall drain to monitor the flood situation or drainage congestion and handle any eventuality, according to the order.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will also establish control rooms to receive complaints and take appropriate action in case of drainage congestion due to heavy rains. These control rooms will stay in constant contact with the Central Flood Control Room.

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Each of the 11 revenue districts in Delhi will have a sector committee headed by a sector officer. These committees will include members from 13 stakeholder departments, such as I&FC, MCD, NDMC, and the health and education departments. The work of each sector committee will be overseen by a cabinet minister.

Three ministers — I&FC Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, PWD Minister Atishi, and Environment Minister Gopal Rai — will oversee these sector committees. The sector committees will create an action plan for setting up sector control rooms, earmarking stores and relief materials, and preparing a list of vulnerable areas and necessary arrangements for emergencies. They will also obtain data on the status of flood control work and roads, especially in vulnerable areas.

“In the event of an evacuation, relief camps would be set up under the supervision of the sector officer concerned at an appropriate place, identified in advance,” the order said.

Also Read: Delhi Rains: Six more rain-related deaths, toll reaches 11 in first two days of Monsoon

The order also highlighted issues from last year when Delhi faced severe flooding. These included the impact on public movement during peak flood days, lack of coordination among different agencies and neighbouring states, and the reluctance of people in flooded areas to evacuate despite warnings.

Last year, heavy rains caused one of Delhi’s worst flood-like situations, leading to the evacuation of over 25,000 people from inundated areas. (With inputs from PTI)