3 projects, Rs 81 cr later, waterlogging remains serious issue in Sirsa

The first heavy rain of the monsoon has exposed the poor planning and execution of Sirsa’s drainage projects. Roads dug up by the municipal council had no warning signs, causing accidents as cars and tractors got stuck in large pits. Despite spending crores, waterlogging remains a serious issue across the city. On Monday, continuous rain left markets, roads, and colonies submerged.

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The drainage work here was done under three major schemes. In 2018-19, pipes were laid under AMRUT 1.0 scheme at a cost of Rs 9 crore, but poor execution caused repeated road collapses and water leaks.

During the 2021-22 term of municipal chairperson Reena Sethi, Phase-I of the Storm Water Project was started with a Rs 37-crore budget. However, the work fell short because pipelines were never laid in core areas, or fully connected to the Ghaggar. The quality of pipes was also questioned. The then Urban Local Bodies Minister, Dr Kamal Gupta, ordered an inquiry, but no action was taken. The Dabwali road pipeline alone has burst five times, most recently on July 8.

In February 2025, work on Phase-II began with a fresh budget of around Rs 35 crore. Pipes are being laid in remaining areas, but residents are accusing officials, contractors, and politicians of large-scale corruption. So far, there has been no investigation.

Local resident Ashok Sharma said roads had been dug up for laying pipelines at many places, like Surkhab Chowk to Parshuram Chowk, Parshuram Chowk to Bhagat Singh Chowk, Janata Bhawan Road, ITI Road, and Rania Road. It was a challenge to drive during the rain due to the potholes.

Rohan Gupta, a resident, said basic technical standards had again been ignored. “Concrete bedding was not provided, soil was not compacted, and no safety signs or barricades were placed. As a result, the roads have become extremely hazardous,” he said.

Municipal council Chairman Veer Shanti Swaroop assured that repairs were underway at several spots and urged residents to stay cautious. He said a vehicle got stuck due to waterlogging, but was quickly removed, and soil was refilled.

Another resident, Harmel Singh, recalled previous tragedies due to poor drainage, including the electrocution of a student and the death of a young doctor due to a road collapse. He demanded criminal cases against those responsible.

RTI activist Inderjeet alleged that municipal officials tampered with RTI records to hide project flaws. During appeal hearings, it was revealed that the then JE and ME destroyed the application. No information had been shared to date.

Ravindra Kumar, a shopkeeper, called the project a “permanent problem”. Pipes had burst multiple times, even before completion, yet the contractor had been paid. “Now in Phase-II, the same careless work is going on just before monsoon,” he said.

Design flaws 'ignored'

Experts have flagged serious issues with the design of the stormwater project. The drainage water is planned to flow directly into the Ghaggar, which is dangerous during monsoon when the river is swollen. There is a real risk of backflow flooding the city, a concern that was ignored in the planning stage.

Officials deny allegations

Speaking to The Tribune, municipal officials denied corruption charges, insisting that the project was in the public domain and transparent. The design, they claimed, was developed by WAPCOS, a state approved agency, after a survey. “Wherever water has entered the newly laid pipelines, it's a good sign as it helps settle the soil,” they said, adding that the flow was naturally toward Ottu Lake, not the city. The project would be completed by November, after which Sirsa would not face waterlogging.