Day after heavy waterlogging, Delhi plans to tackle ‘legacy issues’ with Centre’s help

A day after heavy rain caused extensive waterlogging in Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta informed that her government is addressing the city's long-standing issues with assistance from the Centre. The Capital's drainage system, which is over 50 years old, has been the focus of the government's efforts to find long-term solutions.

The government has been studying the city's problems for a year and a half and has begun implementing measures to tackle water supply, sewerage, drainage, and waterlogging through modern infrastructure, technology, smart metering, and real-time monitoring.

The Drainage Master Plan, costing Rs 56,000 crore, is a key initiative aimed at providing better, reliable, and accountable water and sewer services to Delhi residents in the coming years. So far, 169 waterlogging spots have been identified, and work is underway at 60 locations. Large drains are being constructed as part of the master plan.

PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh reported that the number of waterlogging incidents and hotspots has decreased compared to previous years. He emphasized that no vehicles are submerged even with the increasing population. Singh stated that if water accumulates for less than 30 minutes, it is not considered waterlogging, and the city is expected to see a significant reduction in waterlogging following the changes to the drainage network.