Civic body gears up to tackle monsoon woes

For ensuring proper drainage of rainwater during the ensuing monsoon season, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has geared up and strict directions have been issued to ground staff regarding the same.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo wherein the staff had been directed to ensure regular cleaning/desilting of the ‘Buddha Dariya’. Officials said poclain machines had already been deployed and the desilting work was going on a regular basis.

Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg, Executive Engineer Ekjot Singh, Executive Engineer Parshotam Singh, SDOs of the operations and maintenance (O&M) cell were among those present in the meeting.

Besides the ‘Buddha Dariya’, directions have also issued to ensure cleaning of internal drains/nullahs in the city, including the nullah starting from Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib to the Shingar Cinema road, drains in Dhoka Mohalla, Dharampura, Books Market, Domoria Bridge, Barewal drain, among others.

The field staff had further been directed that road gullies across the city should be cleaned before monsoon hits the city. The officials had been directed to submit certificates regarding the same with the higher authorities. Directions had also been issued to ensure that generator sets were installed at all pumping stations, so that there was no delay in draining out rainwater in case of power failure.

Further, it was stated that prior arrangements should also be made to ensure that there would be no waterlogging at the railway under bridges (RUBs), including Pakhowal road RUBs, underpass near Lodhi Club and Domoria bridge.

MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said a flood control room would also be established and the helpline number would be shared with the public in coming days. The ground staff had been directed to make all arrangements in advance.

Zonal commissioners had also been directed to monitor the situation in their respective zones. He would also be conducting field inspections to take stock of the situation at the ground level in days to come, he said.