Ensure waterlogging doesn’t occur: Chandigarh Adviser

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28

UT Adviser Dharam Pal today issued directions to officials of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the Engineering Department to complete the process of cleaning of stormwater drains and road gullies before heavy rain lashes the city.

While reviewing the preparations for the rainy season, the UT Adviser directed the officials to complete the cleaning process at the most by July 2.

“The monsoon is expected to arrive anytime after July 2 and we should be ready for that,” he said. The Adviser sternly told the officials that “No waterlogging should occur in the city.”

The monsoon is expected to arrive in the first week of July, but the Municipal Corporation has not been able to clean up all road gullies so far.

LR Budaniya, an environmental activist, said unclean road gullies could increase the chances of waterlogging in the city during rain.

The MC has more than 30,000 road gullies under its jurisdiction, while the UT Engineering Department cleans gullies on roads under its purview such as Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg.

Seasonal rivulets such as Sukhna Choe, N-Choe and Patiala Ki Rao also come under the control of the Engineering Department and the work on cleaning of the rivulets was still going on.

Due to the carelessness in the cleaning of rivulets, some areas were also flooded in Khuda Lahora after a flash flood in the Patiala Ki Rao rivulet last year.

Meanwhile, residents alleged that several road gullies were not cleaned in their sectors. Water accumulated in various areas of the city during the pre-monsoon showers recently, Budaniya said, adding that even where road gullies were cleaned, work had not been done properly.

Not removing waste after cleaning the gullies was a waste of efforts, he said, adding that the waste should be removed immediately after cleaning the gullies.