Khattar admits admn’s failure

Says dist admn could have handled situation better

CHANDIGARH: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday admitted failure on the part of the Gurgaon administration for the over 16-hour traffic jam which brought life to halt in the Millennium City.

The chief minister, who was addressing newspersons after an all-party meeting on the golden jubilee year celebrations of the state, said the district administration could have handled the situation better.

“Jam ko samay par pahunch kar sambhala ja sakta tha. (Officials could have managed the situation by reaching the spot in time),” he said.

However, there were multiple factors behind the jam, including the heavy downpour, resulting into overflowing of the Badshahpur drain, and the ongoing work of flyovers at the Hero Honda Chowk and Subhash Chowk.

Stating that he himself will be going to Gurgaon on Monday, Khattar said some other factors had also come to light which were being examined by the high-level officials, who had already reached there. They would verify the reports whether the two gates of the drain were closed or there were other reasons because of which it could not take adequate water and overflowed. Also, the choking of the drain because of illegal constructions around the drain would also be examined, he said.

Khattar denied that there was lack of coordination between the top administration and police officials, saying both Gurgaon deputy commissioner TL Satyaprakash and police commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk were on the spot throughout the night.

Asked about the poor drainage system in several cities, especially Faridabad, Khattar said Gurgaon’s instance was an exception and an exception could not be basic principle for all situations.