NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday conducted an inspection of major drains across the city, ordering immediate desilting to prevent monsoon-related waterlogging.
She criticized previous administrations for their failure to maintain the drainage system, which she said had resulted in frequent sewage overflow and flooding.
Accompanied by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma, and senior officials, Gupta visited key drainage points, including the Sunheri, Barapulla, and Kushak drains. She expressed concern over the lack of coordination between agencies responsible for their upkeep.
“There was no clarity between the agencies on who will clean and maintain the drains. We have now given the responsibility to the Flood and Irrigation Department. It will be the agency responsible for the timely desilting of the drains. A plan and budget will be allocated for the work,” Gupta said.
She emphasised the importance of preemptive action to avoid annual flooding.
“These drains should be cleaned before monsoon so that they can carry water during the rains. Nothing happens in a single day. From today itself, we have to start a summer action plan and a winter plan to tackle pollution,” she added.
Gupta also outlined a broader governance strategy, stating that her ministers and MLAs had been assigned specific public works responsibilities.
“All ministers have been given missions, and all our MLAs are designated with public works,” she said.
Waterlogging has been a long-standing issue in the capital, frequently disrupting daily life during the monsoon season. Addressing reporters, Gupta blamed past governments for their inaction.
“These drains were not taken seriously by the previous governments. When big drains like these are not cleaned, it is obvious that sewage will flow out,” the chief minister said.
Drainage infrastructure was a major election issue in the recent assembly polls, where the BJP ended the AAP’s decade-long rule by securing a landslide victory.