Poor drainage, fall in green cover behind flooding, says GMDA report

Gurgaon: A GMDA report on Gurgaon’s drainage has reiterated what is intuitively known to the city’s residents — only 20% of the rainwater it receives goes towards groundwater recharge, whereas 80% flows into the city’s stormwater drains. The report, which was recently released and presented to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, further states the explosion in the city’s population and frequent extensions of its development plan 2031, are other major reasons for recurrent waterlogging in the city during monsoons.
The study was done as a precursor to the comprehensive drainage plan GMDA has been working on for the city. According to GMDA officials, the city’s rapid development has disrupted natural flow of water, leading to drainage issues at several points, Golf Course Road being a prime example. The expressway is built over what was earlier a route for rainwater to drain out naturally, and since water follows topographic incline, there is waterlogging on the stretch every year.
“The city’s topography is such that there is a lot of difference between the highest and lowest point, causing huge rainwater run-off. Rampant construction has also obstructed natural flow of rainwater, aggravating the problem,” said a senior GMDA official. He added the rapid increase in concreting of surface and reduction in green area hasn’t helped either.
The authority is also conducting a study of the level of concreting in the city. The GMDA report further suggests insufficient capacity of culverts along the national highway is another reason for the drainage city’s problems. “The capacity of the railway culverts and Najafgarh drain also need to be increased.
To address these issues, GMDA has proposed a comprehensive drainage plan, to be executed at a cost of Rs 160 crore in the fiscal year 2019-2020. It will include creation of water harvesting structures, increasing the area covered by ponds, channelizing natural creeks, completion of the fourth leg of the drainage system from Vatika Chowk to railway culvert number 61, and construction of recharge wells from Southern Peripheral Road to culvert number 61.
The entire proposal is worth Rs 289 crore, and includes the creation of water harvesting structures at eight locations in sectors 42-55 along Golf Course Road. These sectors often witness waterlogging during monsoons due to their topography. This part of the project might be taken up in the next financial year, said sources.