Problem is deep-rooted, will take time to fix, says Rekha

As strong winds and pre-monsoon rains lashed the city on Friday morning, throwing life out of gear, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited several flood-affected areas, including Majnu ka Tila, to review the waterlogging situation. She directed officials to identify trouble spots and ensure timely resolution of drainage issues.

Gupta, accompanied by senior officials, said the administration was on high alert since early morning. “I inspected the situation in various parts of Delhi. Instructions have been issued to all departments to immediately identify and address waterlogging,” she said.

Blaming the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for what she called “a crumbling drainage infrastructure,” the Chief Minister said the problem is deep-rooted and will take time to fix.

“This is an old disease we have inherited. It cannot be cured overnight, but we are committed to reversing the damage,” she stated.

Gupta said her ministers and senior officials were on the ground from 6 am, assessing drainage points and coordinating with agencies.

“Waterlogging is not just a seasonal issue but a result of structural failure,” she said, asserting that the government is taking the issue seriously and has adopted a mission-mode approach.

The Chief Minister announced the launch of a 20-day city-wide cleanliness and drainage campaign to address the problem before the monsoon sets in. Nodal officers have been appointed for each site with directions for strict action in case of any negligence in drain cleaning or road repairs.

All departments, including the PWD, MCD, Delhi Jal Board and Urban Development, have been instructed to work in coordination and draw a list of vulnerable waterlogged areas for immediate intervention.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma also conducted inspections across the city, including Minto Road, and said over 90 per cent of the complaints were addressed within two hours.

“In just two months, we have made the system responsive. Teams were deployed well in advance to ensure quick dewatering,” Verma said.

He acknowledged that “sins of the past 10 years” cannot be cleaned up instantly, but asserted that visible improvement was already underway.

The PWD set up 24x7 control rooms, deployed mobile pump units, super suction machines and bell-mouth cleaning teams to tackle the waterlogging. Officials claimed that in most areas, water was cleared within 30 to 60 minutes.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said trees were uprooted in several parts of the city due to the storm. “Unlike the previous government, today’s administration was out in full strength — from the Chief Minister to MLAs and councillors — ensuring that roads were cleared and normalcy restored,” he said.

Sanitation workers from the Delhi Jal Board and MCD were also pressed into service early in the morning to clean roads and drains across the city.