Sirsa’s waterlogging crisis traced to forgotten recharge borewells

Heavy rains in August and September have caused widespread problems in Sirsa district, including severe waterlogging, besides damaging roads, homes, shops and vehicles.

After days of chaos, the district administration has finally turned its attention to nearly 250 recharge borewells meant to help with water drainage and groundwater recharge.

Most of these borewells, especially the 30-odd in the city, have reportedly not been maintained for years. Many are choked with silt and are non-functional, a major reason why water remains stagnant for days after the rain, turning large parts of the city into water bodies.

A meeting was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Virender Sahrawat at the mini-secretariat to discuss measures for rainwater harvesting and the status of recharge borewells in the district.

The ADC directed officials from all departments to ensure that the recharge borewells under their control are functional and monitored regularly. “The borewells not only help prevent waterlogging, but also recharge groundwater. Rainwater must be directed into them instead of letting it flow into drains and open areas,” the ADC said, emphasising their timely repairs and maintenance.

However, residents criticised the administration, saying action has come too late. “The entire city is flooded, homes are filled with sewage water, shops are shut and drinking water is contaminated,” said one local, reacting to the sudden focus on borewells.

Amit Soni, a whistleblower, alleged that lakhs were spent on constructing borewells across Sirsa, but most were non-functional. He demanded an inspection of city borewells, especially in Ward 13 and areas like DC Jain Park and near Bal Bhawan. “If these borewells were working, why was the city flooded?” he said, calling the borewell project a waste of public money due to lack of maintenance.

Meanwhile, officials attending the meeting claimed most borewells are in a working condition and those needing repairs will be fixed soon. The meeting was attended by ASP Faisal Khan and officers from various departments.