Delhi HC pushes for overhaul of city’s drainage system, says emergency efforts needed to stop waterlogging

The Delhi high court on Monday appointed a panel headed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) chief executive officer to look into difficulties in drainage of storm water and sewage in the national capital and said “emergency efforts” were required to keep drains free to stop waterlogging on roads.

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said sewage and storm water have to be dealt with and directed authorities concerned to draw up an action plan for drainage of both.

The bench appointed the committee after taking note of news reports that claimed Delhi’s drainage system was archaic and needed to be upgraded.

The court pulled up civic authorities saying that given the multiplicity of authorities and their “inability to undertake the minimalistic task” of ensuring proper drainage, it was “essential” to monitor the same so that woes of residents are addressed.

The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it after taking note of news reports that heavy rainfall in Delhi between July 10 and July 13 led to waterlogging and disruption of traffic.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the news reports, the bench had asked the Delhi government and civic agencies why waterlogging was a recurring problem during the rains and sought to know the steps taken to prevent it.

Besides loss of man-hours with people unable to reach their destinations in time, including hospitals, idling engines of vehicles would add to air pollution in the city because of waterlogging, the court had said. Water-borne and vector-borne diseases could also spread because of flooded roads and pavements, it had said.

First Published: Jul 30, 2018 16:30 IST