Pumps in underpasses, cleaning drains: GMDA gears up for rain

GURUGRAM: With the monsoon expected to hit the city by the end of this month, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has begun preparations to ensure that Gurugram doesn’t witness waterlogging, unlike previous years.
The metropolitan authority, along with other government departments, has surveyed critical points and begun cleaning and desilting of drains and installing pumps in all underpasses in the city.A flood control room is also being set up.
The metropolitan authority has identified and surveyed 50 ‘critical’ points in the city prone to waterlogging along with officials from the the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). “We have surveyed all critical points such as Narsinghpur and Hero Honda Chowk. Desilting and cleaning of drains at all such points will be done on a priority basis,” GMDA chief engineer Pradeep Dahiya said.
However, contrary to GMDA’s claims, tenders for desilting and cleaning of the drains at various spots have only just been floated.
Dahiya further said they have also installed pumps wherever required for pumping rainwater out. “Four pumps have been installed at Hero Honda Chowk. Discussions are underway to build a ramp on the side of the carriageway so that water doesn’t enter the underpass and there is enough time to pump it out,” said the chief engineer.
Flooding has been a major issue in the city’s underpasses over the past couple of years. Government officials often reached spots only after they were completely inundated. To that effect, a quick response team (QRT) will be formed with representatives from MCG, GMDA and HSVP, who will reach areas prone to waterlogging within a stipulated time period in case of a heavy downpour.
A flood control room — which will be used to regularly monitor the situation of all such areas and pass on that information to the QRT, district administration and residents — is also being established.
Whether these arrangements will help check waterlogging or remain largely on paper like previous years remains to be seen.