open house: Have civic authorities taken timely steps to prevent monsoon waterlogging?

Invest in modern rainwater harvesting

The issue of waterlogging recurs every monsoon mainly due to inadequate desilting of drains and poor maintenance of drainage systems. Civic authorities need to carry out thorough desilting of all major and minor drains well before the monsoon season. Strict monitoring should ensure that contractors complete the work properly and on time. Additionally, the Municipal Corporation should invest in modern rainwater harvesting and stormwater management systems, especially in the low-lying areas. Quick-response teams must also be deployed to clear blocked drains during heavy rains. Public awareness campaigns can further help residents keep their surroundings clean to avoid clogging. Sameer Jain

Upgrade existing drainage system

The recurring issue of waterlogging in Amritsar, particularly in low-lying areas, highlights the inadequacy of preventive measures by civic authorities. Despite the predictable arrival of the monsoon, insufficient desilting of drains and outdated drainage infrastructure continue to cause road mishaps and public inconvenience. The Municipal Corporation of Amritsar must adopt a proactive approach. Regular and timely desilting of drains before the monsoon should be mandatory. Installation of high-capacity pumps in vulnerable areas can help drain excess water quickly. Additionally, upgrading the drainage system, conducting hydrological surveys and implementing rainwater harvesting solutions will offer long-term relief. Public awareness campaigns about waste disposal can also reduce drain blockage. A dedicated disaster response unit should monitor and act promptly during heavy rains. Without these steps, the city will continue to suffer every monsoon. Aarti Rana Chauhan

A crisis of civic apathy, not climate

Despite the onset of monsoon being a predictable seasonal event, Amritsar continues to reel under the same perennial issue - waterlogging in low-lying areas. The primary culprit is the lack of timely desilting of drains and stormwater pipes, which choke the city's ability to absorb even moderate rainfall. This not only disrupts daily life but also poses grave risks of road accidents, traffic snarls and outbreaks of waterborne diseases. The Municipal Corporation's inaction and lack of foresight in upgrading drainage infrastructure reflect administrative complacency. As cities expand and climate shifts become more erratic, Amritsar's waterlogging woes reflect a deeper crisis of governance. Each monsoon, areas like Putlighar, Chheharta and Hall Bazaar turn into stagnant ponds - not due to nature's fury, but because of delayed desilting and obsolete drainage infrastructure. A 2023 PUDA review revealed that 40 per cent of drains remain clogged, undermining public safety and mobility. Road accidents, health hazards and traffic paralysis follow as annual rituals, while civic agencies offer temporary firefighting rather than long-term planning.

To address this:

Ensure pre-monsoon desilting with geo-tagged progress reports.

Deploy high-capacity dewatering pumps in vulnerable wards.

Upgrade old sewer networks and integrate smart sensors.

Ban plastic dumping near stormwater outlets.

Launch citizen co-participation models for community monitoring.

Waterlogging is not a seasonal inconvenience — it's a governance failure. Amritsar needs resilient urban planning rooted in sustainability, accountability and civic foresight. Preetpal Singh Chhina

Collective effort necessary

As the rainy season arrives, city residents feel relieved from the scorching heatwave whereas farmers rejoice as timely rainfall promises bountiful paddy harvest. However, water logging becomes a major issue especially in the low-lying regions and roads, parking areas and gardens. The city Municipal Corporation must ensure daily garbage collection and regular sewage cleaning in all the colonies. Prompt removal of collected waste is also crucial. These measures can prevent waterlogging and ensure a smooth monsoon season. City residents also need to cooperate by properly disposing of waste, helping the corporation maintain a clean and functional drainage system. Together, we can address the monsoon-related challenges that also include water-borne diseases. Let's make the city beautiful and monsoon-ready. Vijay Laxmi

Fix accountability, demand action

No, the civic authorities are just sleeping over the problem since past many years. They have got deaf ears to this recurring problem of our city. In order to mitigate the issue of waterlogging, the Municipal Corporation needs to act swiftly by prioritising action of proper desilting of drains and pipes. Secondly, all roads of our city are in poor condition, so they should try to finish repair of roads across the entire city, before the monsoon finally arrives. Last, but not the least, as corruption is eroding the pending tasks of the Municipal Corporation, the need of the hour is to fix accountability within the civic body so that daily tasks could be completed effectively without any hindrance. Public grievances must be addressed promptly, only then can the residents hope for lasting relief and a safer, cleaner monsoon season. Sanjay Chawla

Desilting of drains essential

As the monsoon rains lash our city, many areas, especially the low-lying ones, are likely to face waterlogging due to inadequate desilting of drains and pipes. This annual phenomenon not only causes inconvenience but also poses a risk to road safety. Unfortunately, the civic authorities seem to be indifferent to this issue. Have the authorities taken adequate measures to address this problem? It's imperative that the Municipal Corporation takes proactive steps to mitigate waterlogging. Desilting of drains and pipes before the monsoon season is crucial. Regular maintenance and inspection of stormwater drains can also help prevent waterlogging. The Municipal Corporation should also consider implementing long-term solutions, such as improving drainage infrastructure and creating flood-control measures. It's time for the authorities to take responsibility and ensure that our city is better equipped to handle the monsoon rains. Balwant Singh

Regular inspections crucial

TAs the monsoon rains continue to pour down on our city, the issue of waterlogging has once again come to the forefront. It's disheartening to see streets and roads turning into mini lakes, disrupting daily life and posing a threat to road safety. The question is, why does this happen every year? The answer lies in the lack of proactive measures taken by our civic authorities. Desilting of drains, maintenance of stormwater pipes and regular inspections are essential to prevent waterlogging. Unfortunately, these tasks seem to be neglected, leaving us to face the consequences. I urge the Municipal Corporation to take immediate action to address this issue. Long-term solutions, such as improving drainage infrastructure and creating flood-control measures, are necessary to prevent waterlogging. It's time for our authorities to take responsibility and work towards creating a more resilient and sustainable urban environment. Harwant Singh

Road conditions worsen problems

Monsoon brings joy for many, but for the residents near Ganga building located between Putlighar and Khalsa College it is tale of misery an entire stretch of main road submerged every year. The situation is exacerbated by the poor condition of the BRTS slip road, which is riddled with potholes and uneven surfaces. During heavy rainfall, these potholes become invisible death traps for commuters. The civic authorities have turned a blind eye and hardly bothered to repair it. When the BRTS project was implemented, the PWD authorities had constructed water harvesting system. Apparently, it never worked. The Municipal Corporation authorities must have acted well in advance to desilt the sewerage chambers. Pritpal Singh

MC lacks vision, basic infrastructure

After receiving crores of rupees for development and upgrade of basic infrastructure, the city still does not have an effective stormwater drainage system, which can stop streets and roads from turning into virtual pools during rains. As most of the streets and roads are inundated, it takes hours for the water to drain out and traffic to return to normalcy. The Municipal Corporation lacks vision and basic infrastructure management to tackle this issue and every year, money is wasted in the name of monsoon preparedness when year round, nothing substantial is done to correct the design flaws, clogged manholes and drains. Savita Saini

Effective planning need of the hour

With no 'kutcha' space left in the city, rainwater gets accumulated on roads. The drainage system is not regularly monitored or maintained to avoid waterlogged spaces. In the absence of an effective stormwater sewerage, which can drain out the water instantly, water remains on some roads from 6 to 12 hours. Residents of the old walled city areas are even more troubled as the area does not have any stormwater sewerage facility. In these areas, the old sewerage system doubles as a storm sewerage system. The residents demanded that the local Municipal Corporation must take steps to properly utilise the stormwater sewerage system but in absence of any clear planning this problem persists and every monsoon comes back to haunt residents. Subhash Sehgal

Small, proactive steps make big impact

With the monsoon's arrival bringing welcome rain to Amritsar, we've seen some familiar concerns arise about waterlogging in lower-lying parts of our city. While it's reassuring that the situation hasn't been as severe as in past years, even minor pooling of water can disrupt daily life and pose safety risks for pedestrians and motorists. It's understandable that seasonal rains test our infrastructure, but it also reminds us that consistent, thoughtful preparation makes all the difference. We recognise that maintaining drains and managing stormwater is no small task for our Municipal Corporation, and their efforts are noticed. Still, many residents hope to see even stronger pre-monsoon actions next year, particularly ensuring drains and pipes are fully cleared of silt well before the rains begin. Small, proactive steps make a big impact: keeping inlet grates clear of debris, gently reminding citizens not to dispose of waste in drains, and quietly reinforcing vulnerable spots in our drainage network. Perhaps this could be a shared endeavour. Clear communication about desilting timelines, simple community alerts during heavy downpours, and exploring practical, small-scale solutions like rain gardens in flood-prone corners would help. Every step taken together-authorities and citizens alike - leads us toward a cleaner, safer Amritsar, season after season. Ravikiran

Public engagement required

It is evident that the civic authorities have not taken adequate measures to tackle the issue of waterlogging, which has now become a routine crisis every monsoon. Despite repeated experiences and public complaints, the absence of proper desilting of drains and stormwater pipes continues to be a major concern. As soon as the rains arrive, several parts of the city, especially low-lying areas, are submerged in water, causing immense inconvenience to commuters and residents alike. Waterlogged roads often lead to traffic jams, damaged vehicles, and even accidents, posing a serious risk to public safety. This recurring problem reflects a lack of long-term planning and accountability. Civic authorities need to go beyond temporary fixes and develop a sustained strategy to ensure effective drainage. The city's drainage system requires urgent attention and modernisation. Pre-monsoon preparation should not just be a checkbox exercise but a genuine, citywide effort carried out in a time-bound and transparent manner. Public engagement and timely communication are equally important to ensure that citizens are informed and involved in maintaining their surroundings. What is needed now is a shift from reactive firefighting to proactive governance. The Municipal Corporation must treat this as a critical urban issue, deserving priority action, not just for this year, but as a continuous process to ensure a safe, functional and flood-resilient city. Sandeep Singh Sandhu

set up pumps in vulnerable areas

Despite prior warnings from the IMD regarding the onset of rains before the actual arrival of the monsoon, a few brief spells have already turned the holy city into a lake. Not only low-lying areas, but also major city roads, market zone, and even developed residential colonies remained waterlogged due to a choked sewerage system and a faulty rainwater disposal infrastructure. Authorities appear ill-prepared to handle heavy or prolonged monsoon rains, primarily due to the ongoing apathy of both the district administration and civic bodies. Given the poor track record of the Municipal Corporation, the administration should seriously consider handing over critical tasks - such as desilting drains, installing water-lifting pumps at vulnerable locations and laying high-capacity pipelines for stormwater drainage, to more competent agencies. These measures are essential to prevent waterlogging, sewage overflow and to minimise public inconvenience as well as safeguard lives and property from such man-made disasters. Anil Vinayak