Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: PWD minister Parvesh Verma on Saturday said no area would be waterlogged this monsoon, and the desilting of all drains would be completed by May 30. He made the statement while reviewing the drainage work in Golf Links, which saw massive waterlogging last year.
In a separate interaction with officials of Public Works Department, Verma emphasised transforming the face of the city and bringing radical reforms to the functioning of the department. He asked officials to clear “drugs, beggars, garbage and darkness” from under the flyovers.
Accompanied by New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj, Verma reviewed the ongoing work related to sewer lines, stormwater drains and sump well construction in Golf Links and assured residents that all preventive works would be completed ahead of the full onset of the monsoon.
“This area was heavily waterlogged last monsoon. This time, we are fully prepared. NDMC has issued all necessary work orders, and the work is progressing swiftly. We’re confident that all works here—and across the city—will be completed before May 30,” he said.
Apart from the construction of three new sump wells, Verma said a super sucker machine was being used daily for the past 10 days to carry out intensive desilting of the drainage network.
“Everything is on track and being monitored daily. Yesterday’s rainfall was a wake-up call, and all officers are on the ground. This time, no area in Delhi will remain flooded. An intensive desilting drive is underway to clear stormwater drains and prevent flooding,” Verma asserted.
Delhi recorded 77mm rainfall by 8.30am on Friday, the second-highest 24-hour for May since 1901.
Talking to PWD officials separately, Verma directed that all debris, filth and waterlogging must disappear from Delhi in 21 days. CM Rekha Gupta on Friday launched a 21-day cleanliness drive, promising to remove garbage, debris and encroachment from across Delhi.
Verma issued similar directions to his department and said no dirty spots should remain in the city. “We won’t let public money go to waste. Now only work will happen. There will be no excuses. Let us own this city, let us own this department,” he said.
Following a series of visits and on-ground inspections in the last few weeks, Verma told officials that PWD must shed its negative image. “PWD’s image has deteriorated — now improvement is mandatory. When roads are dug, they remain that way for months. Drain cleaning remains incomplete. People think of PWD as a department where work gets stuck in files. This image must change,” he asserted.
The minister also emphasised zero tolerance on corruption and said every PWD tender should be transparent and every task should be of good quality and completed on time. Action will be taken against senior officers if found negligent towards duty, Verma reiterated.
Mayank Rawat
