In a strategic bid to address recurrent urban flooding during the monsoon, the Public Works Department (PWD) is mulling over the possibility of transferring the critical task of drain desilting to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This significant move comes amid a comprehensive revamp effort to optimise the city’s drainage network.
Currently overseeing a substantial 2,064.08km of drains, constituting approximately 55% of the city’s drainage infrastructure, the PWD has faced challenges in mitigating monsoon-induced urban flooding. To tackle this issue, a proposal is being formulated for discussions with the MCD in the upcoming days, signalling a potential shift in responsibilities to enhance operational efficiency. Despite previous attempts to engage consultants for a comprehensive drainage master plan focusing on the city’s three basins — Najafgarh Basin, Trans-Yamuna Basin, and Barapullah Basin — progress has been hindered by the engagement of consultants for only one basin so far. These consultants are tasked with designing a fresh approach to the drainage network, ensuring its resilience to existing and future challenges.
The envisaged plan involves dividing the city into three basins, each assigned an architect consultant responsible for presenting a comprehensive plan with actionable solutions. This approach aims to provide a strategic roadmap for both the PWD and other relevant agencies to address drainage-related issues effectively. The recent scrutiny by the Delhi High Court over waterlogging issues has added impetus to these initiatives. The court directed the chief secretary to designate a singular agency responsible for maintaining all drains in the city, expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of the drainage system.
The proposed transfer of desilting responsibilities to the MCD aligns with the broader objective of streamlining urban infrastructure management. By leveraging the MCD’s localised expertise, the PWD aims to enhance the drainage network’s efficacy, fostering a more coordinated and responsive approach to the city’s drainage challenges As the PWD navigates this overhaul, the city anticipates improved resilience against waterlogging, setting the stage for a more sustainable and robust urban drainage system.
