Monsoon preparedness: No leave for Delhi engineers, senior officials till Sept 15

In a decisive move to bolster monsoon preparedness, the Delhi Government has suspended leaves for engineers and senior officials until September 15, officials aware of the matter said Friday.

This preemptive action follows the 2024 deluge, where unprecedented rainfall and a swelling Yamuna left large parts of Delhi submerged, exposing weaknesses in the city’s drainage and disaster response systems.

According to the officials, leave will be sanctioned only in cases of serious medical emergencies, subject to approval by top authorities.

“It is hereby ordered that leave of any kind will not be approved or recommended at any level for Junior Engineer and above till September 15, 2025, except in cases of extreme medical emergencies involving the officer or immediate family. In such instances, leave will only be granted with approval from the Principal Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary,” an official order by the Public Works Department (PWD), accessed by The Tribune, read.

The PWD emphasised the urgency of the season, noting that critical work must proceed at a war-footing, which includes desilting drains, preventing waterlogging and flooding, repairing roads and clearing debris across the city.

The notification also underscored that all departments concerned must remain on high alert throughout the monsoon to address any emerging challenges promptly.

Notably, two years ago, the Capital witnessed one of its worst flood situations after heavy rains lashed the city.