Gurgaon gets rain-ready: Huda and MCG told to clear drains

Gurgaon: With the monsoon set to hit Delhi on Monday, the administration is pulling out all the stops to avoid a repeat of last year and keep roads above the rainwater. Gurgaon MLA Umesh Aggarwal met Huda and MCG officials and directed them to ensure drains are cleaned up by the end of this month, or face action for negligence.
The meeting was held to avert a situation like that of the past weekend, where a two-hour shower drowned city roads.
Though, according to Aggarwal, there might be a waterlogging problem if the rains lash Gurgaon this weekend, he said he was assured that all drains would be cleaned by next Friday.
"The ground situation last week was an eye-opener for all of us. This meeting was called to check the preparations in ensuring no waterlogging takes place anywhere in the city during the monsoon," he said .
He said the officials have also been directed to keep water pumps on standby for areas where the architecture doesn't allow rainwater to drain out naturally. "Wherever it is not possible to drain out rainwater by natural flow, the officers have been asked to arrange pump sets to pump out the accumulated water. Moreover, in case waterlogging still takes place, the officers concerned will be held responsible and action will be recommended against them. I am satisfied with the progress of de-silting work of drains in the last three days and I am sure we will be able to meet the June 30 deadline," he said.
Other than this, the divisional officer has also directed MCG and Huda officials to stay in the city during the rains, or take the deputy commissioner's permission to travel.
"Even if they have to attend meetings at the Chandigarh headquarters during the monsoon period, they must inform the deputy commissioner in advance," said D Suresh, divisional officer, Gurgaon.
The direction comes following a complaint by Aggarwal that some days ago, when he had contacted the officers concerned regarding waterlogging, he was told that they were not aware about the waterlogging problem as they were out of town. The divisional commissioner said that works could be taken up at critical points even if administrative approval was pending.