NEW DELHI: The Capital has 145 dumping sites, and 40 contractors have been assigned the task of de-silting drains and ferrying the debris to these sites. Still, Delhi gets waterlogged whenever it rains. Reason: The silt and debris are not reaching the sites after being collected from city areas.
This is because the contractors responsible for de-silting the drains are rotating the debris inside the city to make easy money. Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) has received complaints that various contractors are silently dumping debris on roadsides, instead of disposing it at the 145 listed sites, to cut down the cost of transportation. The operations are conducted at night due to which no tab is being kept on the credibility of work done.
Locations, including BRT corridor, Lajpat Nagar, Millennium Depot, Sarai Kale Khan and Rao Tula Ram flyover, are some stretches where debris are usually disposed of, which futher lead to water logging. According to the official report compiled by the PWD, 98% de-silting has been done on BRT corridor, still water logging problem is persistent. Similarly, 35% drains have been cleaned so far on RTR Marg Road, but there is no change in the situation.
“Debris dumped by one contractor on a footpath is cleared by another contractor, who dumps it at another location and money is claimed from the Delhi government. The circle goes on like this,” said PWD secretary Ashwani Kumar. Even the staff at landfill sites has alleged that they are not receiving.
PWD department has claimed that at some locations some locals are also dumping material along roads.
Delhi Traffic police that faces flak for waterlogged roads and traffic jams after rains claimed that at various locations debris are washed away with rain into the drains causing water logging. “Debris lying on side of the roads and construction sites are causing water logging, becoming obstacle for the traffic,” said special CP traffic Ajay Kashyap.