GMDA acquires plot for Badshapur drain widening

Gurgaon: The perennial waterlogging that the city faces every monsoon might get addressed to some extent, with the GMDA acquiring a 231sqm plot near Old Khandsa Road that will help increase the capacity of Badshapur drain at this location from 800 cusecs to 2,300 cusecs. This bottleneck, which had remained unresolved for many years, is a major factor in frequent flooding of various vulnerable and low-lying parts of the city.
Badshapur drain, which is around 26km long, starts from Ghata village and is connected to Najafgarh drain via Vatika Chowk, Old Khandsa Road and Sector 99. “The total capacity of Badshapur drain had been increased to 2,300 cusecs, except for a 33m stretch near Seema Engineering Works on Old Khandsa Road. Only on this part, the width of the drain narrows down to one channel instead of three, due to which its drainage capacity is 800 cusecs,” GMDA chief engineer Pradeep Kumar said.
He added, “Acquisition of a 33m long and 7m wide plot for the widening of the drain was pending in court.”
GMDA officials said CEO Sudhir Rajpal wrote to the deputy commissioner last month to order construction of this part of the drain under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, following which the latter deputy commissioner issued an order to get it constructed in the larger public interest by taking possession of the plot.
“The order was challenged by the landowner in the high court demanding a stay. However, the court allowed possession of the land falling in the right of way of drain only after payment of compensation. GMDA has taken possession of the land by paying the amount and has also started construction,” Kumar said.