Political storm erupts over waterlogging

The first spell of rain in the city on Friday sparked a political face-off as widespread waterlogging and traffic snarls laid bare the BJP-led Delhi Government’s claims of monsoon preparedness.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s earlier assurance that there would be “no waterlogging” this season was called into question with opposition leaders slamming the administration for its alleged failure and “optics-driven governance.”

AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a scathing attack on the BJP, terming the present administration a “four-engine BJP government”. The BJP controls the NDMC, DDA, PWD and MCD, he said.

“From top to bottom, the BJP is in charge. Yet 400 of the 445 waterlogging hotspots identified by the PWD were submerged. What happened to the engineers and the suspension orders the minister boasted about?” Bharadwaj asked.

He accused PWD Minister Parvesh Verma of staging a “morning walk photo-op” instead of conducting a real inspection, adding, “Where were the engineers and secretaries? It was just another publicity stunt.”

He further questioned the absence of third-party audits mandated by the Delhi High Court for desilting works. “Crores were spent. Desilting happened only on paper. The result is what we see on our streets today,” he alleged.

Bharadwaj termed the Najafgarh tragedy a “deep shame” and evidence of administrative failure.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav said the BJP’s “false model of development” stood exposed. “Despite claims of extensive desilting and road repairs, the same areas — Connaught Place, ITO, Minto Road, RK Puram, and IGI Airport — were again waterlogged, leading to traffic chaos across the city,” he said.

Yadav mocked CM Rekha Gupta’s delayed visit to Majnu Ka Tila, saying, “She reached the site five hours after the rain stopped, with water still clogging the area.”

The AAP and Congress demanded accountability. “Last year, 45 people died due to rain-related incidents under AAP. This time, the BJP is on the same path,” said Yadav. “When the Congress was in power, desilting was completed in time and silt was removed properly. Today, it’s all on paper.”