Collective efforts needed to tackle the problem

One of the common sights immediately after a heavy rainfall is the accumulation of water on city roads. Roads are blocked leading to traffic jams; pedestrians have to fade through the flooded streets. A way to tackle the waterlogging problem as well as the ever decreasing levels of groundwater could be rainwater harvesting, a technology that has been used for many years. Sale of polythene should be banned as polythene chokes the drains. Roads which get waterlogged every season should be identified and water pumps should be installed to clear the water. The non-functional pumps in underpasses and subways should be immediately repaired. Residents should be informed and educated about not to throw garbage into the drains. A helpline number should be started where residents could report instances of waterlogging. Low-lying areas should be indentified and adequate pumping arrangements into proper disposal facility should be arranged. Potholes on the major city roads should be filled so as to avoid accidents.  

Dr Jasdeep Kaur

Potholes should be filled before monsoon

Waterlogging on city roads is a common problem during monsoon. In rainy season, water gets accumulated on roads and gullies, and this stagnant water acts as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. Saplings should be planted by the roadsides and wide-scale rainwater harvesting in homes and industrial areas can be a solution to this problem. Drainage system should be repaired and its maintenance should be ensured by the PWD departments. Potholes should be filled before the onset of monsoon. Also rain gardens can prove to be a boon. They never get choked by garbage unlike the drainages. Only blaming officials and relying totally on them won't bring any change to the situation. Instead each one of us should contribute on individual levels by taking preventive measures.

Ishita Katyal

Drainage lines should be cleaned regularly

Waterlogging is a big problem during monsoon. The authorities should make arrangement for regularly cleaning the drainage pipes. Waterlogging occurs when pipes are blocked due to garbage which flows into it with the rainwater. So, if the pipes are cleaned regularly, these would not be blocked and this problem would be minimised.

Ekroop Kaur

Good drainage system should be in place

The city confronts the problem of waterlogging during the rainy season, which often causes accidents in the city. The administration should make sure that good drainage system is in place to curb the problem. There should be absolute ban on plastic and polythene bags because these choke the drainage system, which lead to waterlogging. Effective mechanism for garbage disposal is the need of the hour. Drains should be cleaned before the arrival of monsoon. There should be dry wells at appropriate distances on the road. These wells can be used for storing water. Efforts should be made to grow plants more and more plants.

Ritu Priya 

Build a proper rainwater drainage network

Waterlogging is a major problem in the rainy season in the cities. The main cause is poor drainage system and choked sewerage system due to insufficient cleaning. The problem of waterlogging can be solved by building a proper rainwater drainage network so that the excess water during rainy days can be directly discharged into nearby canals, open fields or in rivers. If there is no such system in the city, it should be ensured that the sewerage system is properly cleaned before monsoons. There should be a proper check on dumping of waste in the sewage and limiting the use of plastic bags because that is the main cause of choking of sewerage system. Encouraging rainwater harvesting in commercial as well as residential areas can also help in discharging excess water into tanks or underground water.  

Vandna Malik

Roads should be recarpeted every five years

It is our duty to keep our home and surroundings neat and clean because we are human beings. The government is providing us some basic facilities such as roads, water, electricity and alike, and it becomes our prime responsibility to protect them by using these wisely. Every year, waterlogging on roads is a common sight during monsoon as there is no proper drainage system in the city. The problem of waterlogging gives a tough time to commuters. Not only has it often lead to major accidents, but also proving bad for vehicles. Car drivers should not restart their vehicles while they are in deep water. We should not throw waste material on roads as this also leads to waterlogging. Plastic bags should be banned as it not only leads to waterlogging but also is an environmental hazard. People should lend their support to the local government to curb these problems. The government should ensure that roads are recarpeted every five years. The government should form a committee which should keep a vigil of this problem, and whenever the problem arises, the same must be reported to the department concerned and it may be resolved immediately.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Come up with modern drainage system

For residents, waterlogged roads are as much a part of the monsoon package as thunder and lightning as the authorities are yet to come up with a state-of-the-art drainage system. This is due to a combination of factors such as greediness of citizens, corrupt attitude of MC officials and apathetic politicians etc. The existing drainage system fails to deal with even pre-monsoon showers as drains often remain clogged with waste from our homes, fallen leaves, dust and debris. Nothing in the name of law is there as everybody is free to throw garbage here and there. A broken garbage collection and disposal system further adds to these woes. The municipal corporation is responsible for both cleaning drains and proper garbage disposal, but they fail to carry out these crucial tasks. To handle the problem of waterlogging on city roads is a long-haul project and revolves around budgeting, policy making and planning keeping in mind all the factors for an integrated urban water management system.

RAVI CHANDER GARG 

Residents should not throw garbage into drains

We cannot blame the Municipal Corporation every time. We need to understand that MC employees are also humans like us. Though they try their level best to prevent waterlogging, sometimes there is heavy rainfall which leads to waterlogging. It is also the duty of the residents to keep the drains in and around their houses clean. We should not throw garbage into the drains which is the main cause of the blocking of drains, ultimately leading of waterlogging during the rainy season. In Canada, people are instructed to clean their passages as well as the area around their houses in case of snowfall. If they don't do it, they are fined. This type of practice can be adopted by the MC to force people to keep the drains around their homes neat and clean. We need to understand that only joint efforts by the city dwellers and the MC can bring our beautiful city out of the problem of waterlogging.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Construct proper drains alongside roads

The onus lies on the MC authorities to ensure that all roads and drains are cleaned before the rainy season. Residents should keep their surroundings free of litter so that sewer does not get choked. The MC authorities must recruit sewer cleaning staff or they can give the contract to some private company. The silt in the seasonal drains causes hurdles in the proper movement of water and can obstruct its way sometimes. This silt should be effectively removed. The roads must be tilted properly so that the water cannot accumulate there. Proper drains should be constructed alongside roads. The cleaning staff must clear off the plastic bags which choke the sewer openings. 

KARANVIR SINGH

Sewerage manholes should be covered tightly

Waterlogging becomes a common problem for city residents and commuters during monsoon. Sometimes, there are big potholes in roads and lids of sewerage also remained opened which may invite accidents and become fatal in some cases. Commuters have to drive their vehicles in knee-deep water, resulting in mishaps. It is the prime duty of the local government to recarpet all roads which are in bad condition before the dawn of the monsoon and sewerage manholes should be covered tightly. There must be a proper system of drainage alongside the roads so that water does not get accumulated. As a rational and sensible citizen, we should not throw any waste material on roads and in sewerage as these lead to chocking of sewerage. This dirty water mixes with the rainwater and produce foul smell. Nobody should be allowed to dig roads on their own. The local government should give connection of sewerage, water and other telephone connection to each household and establishment before carpeting the new road. We should also not use plastic bags as these not only chock water supply, but is an environmental hazard too. We all must help the authorities to get rid of the problem of waterlogging. 

Farzana Khan

Growing more plants can also solve the problem

Waterlogging is a common problem in cities during rainy season. It causes much inconvenience to residents and there is a chance of outbreak of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya etc. To eliminate the problem of waterlogging, roads should be well-designed for drainage of water. There should be an absolute ban on plastic because it often chokes drains. Growing more and more plants can also help to solve the problem of waterlogging. 

KAMALDEEP KAUR

Drainage system should be repaired

Waterlogging is a grave problem prevailing from decades in our city. Though it has been announced that Ludhiana will become a Smart City, problem of waterlogging still haunts the city. Cracks, ruts, potholes and dysfunctional drainage system are the factors that cause the problem of waterlogging, resulting in outbreak of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya etc. This problem can be tackled with well-constructed roads and proper drainage system. The Municipal Corporation must make proper plans for low-lying areas of the city and areas with heavy traffic. 

Rattandeep Singh Oberoi

Don't throw garbage into drains

Some parts of our cities have drainage systems that are almost medieval. They do not have the capability to manage the quantum of water that flows through them, which results in waterlogging. Then, places such as underpasses have no slope for the water to drain off, so it just collects there on the sides, causing a stink and allowing mosquitoes to breed in the pools. Storm water is the technical town planning term for excess rain water. In an environment where there were no buildings and pavements, like for example in a forest, the excess rainwater merely seeps into the soil. But in a city, because of concretised surfaces, the storm water cannot seep into the ground naturally. Hence, it needs an outlet to flow into. Normally, a city's design includes storm water drainages. But many of these outlets in Indian cities are choked by garbage or silt. Therefore, the storm water has no means to flow off and collects right there. A solution to the problem of waterlogging lies in segregating wet garbage from the dry. If people start separating garbage, it will take care of the problem to a large extent. Start segregating waste in your respective homes before disposing it off. The dry waste such as empty cans and glass bottles can be sold off. This also helps rag pickers who are otherwise seen sifting through piles of garbage with bare hands. Whenever you dump garbage anywhere, it is bound to find its way into the drains, thereby choking them leading to no solution. 

Shubhangi