Water-logging in Delhi: Delhi HC tells Irrigation and Flood Control Department to map all problem areas

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Rainwater harvesting unfeasible, Storm-water drains incapable: Jal Board to Delhi HC

Above: A water-logged road in NCR region (representative image)/Photo: UNI  

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (July 26) issued a slew of directions to control water logging in the capital including mapping of the existing storm water area among others. Additionally, the court also outlined some areas to be examined by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (it was also made party) of the Delhi government.

The court directed following steps to be taken:

  • Mapping the existing storm water area
  • Complete information regard to the geographic area.
  • Chief Secretary (CS) shall call meeting of concerned departments and prepare the Single Mapping of the storm water drain management system.
  • Colour coding of the respective jurisdiction in the map of Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, East Delhi Municipal Corporation and Public Works Department.

In view of the above directions, the bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar, directed the CS of Delhi to convene a meeting with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

The bench further took note of the affidavit filed by DJB and directed Irrigation and Flood Control Department to examine the following aspects:

  • Inefficient discharge of the rain water.
  • Inconvenience of water following through drain.
  • Different agency maintains that drainage system.
  • Unauthorised colonies and illegal construction.

The court wants a report in two weeks.

The bench had taken suo motu cognizance of recent incidents of massive water-logging in the Capital by perusing various newspaper reports.

During the course of proceedings, the bench was informed by the Delhi government’s counsel that the CS convened a meeting in which it was found that the difficulty has arisen not due to ground water but because of existing storm water management system (SWMS). The agency responsible for SWMS is the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of Delhi government.

—India Legal Bureau