Desilting of drains to start from Apr 15
NEW DELHI : The Public Works Department is likely to start desilting of drains from April 15 to prevent waterlogging on roads this monsoon.
In a reply to a question by leader of the opposition Vijender Gupta in the Delhi Assembly, PWD minister Satyendar Jain said the department was inviting tenders for desilting works.
“The PWD is inviting tenders for desilting of drains and the target of starting the work is April 15, 2018,” Jain told the House.
According to government officials, it will be a two-month long exercise which will begin before rains and is expected to be completed by June 15.
Every monsoon, city roads are waterlogged leading to severe traffic jams along with other inconvenience to the residents. Delhi has around 165 major drains.
Besides PWD, which comes under the government, the three municipal corporations and the irrigation department are also responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the drains in the national Capital.
Last year, the desilting of drains had turned into a flashpoint between the government and the bureaucrats in the national Capital.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had sought action against the then PWD secretary Ashwani Kumar for not obeying his order over desilting of drains.
A high-level committee was also formed by the lieutenant governor Anil Baijal to look after desilting of drains and open manholes in the city.