Concretisation causing inefficient stormwater drainage in Faridabad

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 24

Although 80 per cent of internal roads and streets are cemented or Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) in the district, problems related to civic infrastructure have still prevailed in the form of waterlogging and depleting groundwater levels.

While several hundred crores of funds were spent on the construction of RMC roads over the last two decades, the issue of waterlogging and inadequate recharge of underground water have propped up in the wake of the improper upkeep of infrastructure, sources in the district administration claimed.

Though the exact data of the funds spent on the RMC roads so far is yet to be compiled, sources claim that an amount of over Rs 700 crore may have been spent on cemented roads till date. However, this has failed to provide respite from the problem of waterlogging due to inefficient stormwater drainage despite the improvement in the condition of the roads, sources added.

Depletion in groundwater level

The concretisation has led to a sharp decline in the green or open areas as footpaths and the green belts adjoining the roads have also been covered with interlocking tiles, resulting in rainwater getting accumulated on road or low-lying areas. Excess water results creates waterlogged conditions and concretisation leads to reduced groundwater recharge.  — Vishnu Goel, A resident

Ninety per cent of roads lying in Badkhal, Ballabgarh and urban sectors in the city have been cemented. Around 70 per cent of roads or streets in the NIT zone have also been covered. The Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) has also spent around Rs 50 crore on RMC roads, it was revealed.

“The concretisation has led to sharp decline in the green or open areas as footpaths and the green belts adjoining the roads have also been covered with interlocking tiles, resulting in rainwater getting accumulated on road or low-lying areas,” said Vishnu Goel, an area resident. He said poor stormwater drainage or absence of proper drains had made the problem severe and this had affected the so-called posh or VIP areas. “With no efficient rainwater harvesting system, excess water results creates waterlogged conditions and concretisation leads to reduced groundwater recharge during the monsoon,” he added.

“Waterlogging after every downpour has emerged as a cause for concern and this has led to an appalling situation even after spending hundreds of crores each year,” said NK Katara, a resident. Areas covered with concrete affect the groundwater as it reduces the seepage of rainwater into ground, he added.

“The problem of stormwater disposal was aggravated due to lack of cleanliness and maintenance of the drains, which had either been choked or not connected with disposal outlets,” said Ajay Bahl, another resident, who added that the quality of the RMC roads had also come under a scanner following the complaints of these cracking up.

Ombir Singh, Superintending Engineer, Faridabad Municipal Corporation, said a stormwater drainage system was provided with every new road and cleaning and maintenance of the existing drains was a regular exercise.