MCD Claims Desilting Done In 2 Key Drains

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has cleared the major intersections on Sunheri drain and Kushak drain on the directions of the lieutenant governor. It claimed that it had removed 600 tonnes of silt from the drains till Friday, reducing the chances of waterlogging in the neighbouring areas of Bharti Nagar, Golf Links and Dyal Singh College.
MCD claimed to have opened all five waterways on the Kushak drain near CGO Complex and seven waterways on the Sunheri drain opposite Soochna Bhawan. “The work on these sites started on Aug 4 after engaging additional machinery and manpower,” said an official. That day, LG VK Saxena inspected the Barapullah, Kushak and Sunheri drains as also the Barapullah Bridge at Nizamuddin.
To accomplish this task, MCD employed specialised machinery, such as skid rollers that can access the clogged segments in the drains. “Some of these waterways had accumulated silt for 25 years and water could flow only in two-three channels at the intersections, causing waterlogging outside,” said an official. LG is likely to inspect the sites on Sunday.
Sunheri drain is about 2km long. It starts at Dyal Singh College, crosses the DTC depot and merges with Kushak drain near Lala Lajpat Rai Marg. After the heavy rains on June 28, Bharti Nagar and Golf Links were waterlogged. A boundary wall there collapsed when it couldn’t bear the pressure of accumulated rainwater.
These low-lying areas fall under New Delhi Municipal Council’s jurisdiction. The waterlogging led to multiple surveys of the area being undertaken, including by officials of both MCD and NDMC. Delhi’s chief secretary was also present on some occasions.
“The survey established that Sunheri drain was clogged. A difference in the level of the brick barrel drain and the concrete drain was also reported, which is why the rainwater couldn’t discharge between them with 100% capacity. As an immediate measure, MCD installed a pump of 280 horsepower at a temporary pump house near the DTC depot. Thereafter, NDMC sought clearance for constructing a proper pump house and installing two motors there, a request that was granted by MCD,” said an official of NDMC.
To manage waterlogging on Purana Quila Road, NDMC is working on a plan to develop a reservoir beneath the green belt adjacent to the road. This reservoir will be connected to a small sump well, a pumping station and a pipeline that will link it to the nearest drainage system. The primary purpose of this reservoir will be to capture and store rainwater during periods of heavy precipitation. Additionally, it will serve as an aquifer, allowing the gradual recharge of groundwater resources in the area, an NDMC official had explained earlier.