In response to a recent report highlighting severe waterlogging issues in Northwest Delhi, the Delhi government has pledged to eradicate all related problems within the next 18 months. This announcement comes after residents of Sharma Enclave, a notified unauthorised colony in the Kirari Assembly constituency, have endured inundated streets and homes for approximately nine months, disrupting daily life and forcing some to abandon their residences.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Overhaul
Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Singh Sahib detailed a multi-faceted strategy to address the crisis. The plan includes the installation of a well-laid sewage system within six months, designed to divert household sewage to a 25-MGD sewage treatment plant in Rohini. To facilitate this, three new sewage pumping stations will be constructed in Bhagya Vihar, Prem Nagar, and Pratap Vihar.
Major Drainage Projects Underway
A key component of the initiative is a Rs 220 crore investment by the Irrigation and Flood Control department for a 4.5-kilometer-long trunk drain. This infrastructure aims to redirect rainwater, which currently accumulates in the low-lying area, to a supplementary drain. Minister Singh confirmed that a detailed project report has been prepared, tenders are in process, and completion is expected within one-and-a-half years, covering a catchment area of 1,520 acres.
Additionally, the Delhi Development Authority is nearing completion of a 7.2 km drain from Kiraki to Rithala, a project initiated in 2020 with a budget of Rs 250 crore. The Public Works department is also finalizing a Rs 183 crore drain on Rohtak Road, while a Rs 9.4-crore drain project for local development and outfall connectivity has been planned specifically for Sharma Enclave.
Political Accountability and Historical Context
Minister Singh criticized previous administrations for their lack of a comprehensive approach to water management in the region. He alleged that local MLAs were more focused on commissions than solving public issues, noting that despite a population of around 10 lakh in the Kirari constituency, no sewer lines were laid until 2020. Singh blamed the AAP government for the severe waterlogging, pointing out that after the Lieutenant Governor's intervention in 2020, the Delhi Jal Board had issued a Rs 480 crore tender for 114 unauthorised colonies, including Sharma Enclave, which was scheduled for completion in December 2024 but remains unfinished.
This proactive plan represents a significant step towards alleviating the long-standing waterlogging woes in Northwest Delhi, offering hope to affected residents for a drier and more sustainable future.
