LG tells Delhi agencies to treat waterlogging as a disaster

Delhi’s civic and engineering chiefs have been told to treat waterlogging as a “disaster”, with Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu directing them to stay on the ground during flooding and coordinate their response.

At a review meeting attended by senior officials from the Delhi Jal Board, PWD, NDMC, MCD, traffic police and the divisional administration, Sandhu called for a whole-of-government approach. His office said waterlogging should be prevented in the first place, and asked agencies to expedite pump installation at identified vulnerable spots.

The direction follows rain-related disruption to traffic and daily movement across the Capital. NDMC chairperson Manoj Dwivedi apologised to residents after prolonged flooding in parts of the council area. He said NDMC usually clears water within 15 to 20 minutes, but it took more than an hour at three to four locations — delays reported at four rain-hit sites.

Department heads have been asked to be physically present on affected streets and oversee remedial work when flooding occurs.