Delhi will soon see 12 gates near the Yamuna and big drains to prevent flooding on roads during the monsoon.
The Public Works Department (PWD) is doing this to prevent backwater flow from Irrigation and Flood Control (I & FC) drains to PWD drains and ultimately roads, this monsoon.
In 2023, the Ring Road stretch from Vikas Marg from Indraprastha Bridge till the ITO intersection and stretch towards Kashmere Gate was flooded even after the rains stopped. The flooding happened after a regulator installed at the drain number 12 near IP Metro station broke, following which water from the Yamuna came onto the main roads.
“To avoid such flooding, the department is planning to construct gates at major drains like at Kalindi Kunj, Okhla Barrage, so there is no backflow from Yamuna… Tenders have been floated for the project,” said a PWD official.
PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, meanwhile, took stock of the on-ground situation, including inspection of I & FC control room located in Shastri Nagar, on Tuesday, and conducted a review of preparations ahead of the monsoon.
During the inspection, the minister said the government is working with complete seriousness and coordination to free the Capital from the recurring menace of waterlogging, said officials.
“The I&FC Control Room continuously monitors all 77 major drains across Delhi and the water levels of the Yamuna river, 24/7. It tracks the flow of rainwater, the quantity of water being released upstream, and assesses the downstream impact. As water levels rise, decisions regarding issuing warnings and evacuating vulnerable areas are made right from here,” said the minister.
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According to officials, out of 76 major drains, 90% have already been cleaned, and the remaining work is in its final phase.
The department is using modern machinery, GPS tracking, and ground reporting mechanisms to ensure that no blockages occur and the risk of waterlogging is eliminated.
Singh also directed officials to submit daily real-time progress reports to the control room. “Our goal is not just to tackle rainfall, but to restore the faith of Delhi’s residents that this year, they won’t face the same old problems,” said Singh.
PWD has completed 50 percent desilting work. It looks after 2,100 kms of storm water drains along its roads.
