Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and representatives of the Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and other agencies received a plethora of directives from both the L-G V K Saxena and Delhi government during multiple meetings on Friday, as Delhi recorded its highest rainfall in almost a century.
All senior officials on leave were urged to report to work right away by the L-G. He declared, “No leave to be sanctioned for the next two months and all senior officers on leave should be asked to report on duty immediately.” Additionally, he gave orders to establish a 24-hour emergency control room staffed by senior representatives from all relevant government ministries.
Ministers in Delhi convened a crucial meeting at 2:00 pm, during which they directed the Chief Secretary and several important departments, such as the MCD, PWD, and I&FC. One of the options made was to establish a waterlogging control room at the PWD headquarters that would be open 24/7.
Taking to X, the L-G Office in a post said: “It is shocking that the Flood Control Order and desilting of drains that should have been issued and completed by 15.06.24 are yet pending. The Flood Control Order, normally issued after the Apex Committee meeting chaired by the Hon’ble CM is pending with the Hon’ble Minister.”
Hitting back, Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed officials complained about multiple meetings: “The Chief Secretary has on record said they are being called for different meetings and they don’t have time to go to the ground. We called one meeting… then we got to know L-G sahab held a meeting earlier in the morning, and the Home Ministry has called a meeting tomorrow… I’ve told the Chief Secretary to write a letter and tell them that due to multiple meetings, officers are unable to focus on the ground situation.”
Requests for comment via phone and message went unanswered by Kumar.
But Raj Niwas confronted the Delhi administration, claiming Saxena had been coordinating the “fastest possible relief” for the citizens of the city “with none else responding,” without identifying the government.
PWD Minister Atishi stated at a news conference held following the meeting that although Delhi received 800 mm of rain throughout the entire monsoon, it has never before experienced 228 mm of rain in a single day since 1936. “Even drains, whether managed by the MCD, PWD or I&FC, overflowed. But water was pumped out as the rain subsided. At some locations, it took time to pump out the water and in such areas, we had to cut the power supply as a precautionary measure,” she said.
She said the meeting was chaired by her and Cabinet ministers Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Imran Hussain. It was also attended by the Chief Secretary and other senior officials like DJB secretary Anbarasu.
Giving details about the decisions taken, Bharadwaj said, “A 24×7 waterlogging control room will be created at the PWD HQ. There will be officers working in an 8-hour shift. Representatives of all three big departments — PWD, MCD and I&FC — will be present to monitor the situation.”
Asked about the meeting held by the L-G and his direction to establish a control room, Bharadwaj said, “This is a transferred subject that comes under the elected government. The plan to set up a control room under the PWD was already in process… if the L-G is creating a control room at the L-G Office or he has given directions to establish one at Delhi Police and DDA (office)… I don’t know.”
Bharadwaj also said they have issued directions to the Traffic Police, MLAs and councillors to make a list of vulnerable waterlogging points in their areas and share them with the government.
On its part, Raj Niwas, in a post on X, said Saxena had been on the job since morning and been of “some assistance” to the capital’s residents “despite limited powers”.
“Right since 7 in the morning, Hon’ble LG kept speaking to RWAs, Village, UA Colonies & JJ Cluster Reps, MPs, MLAs, Councillors, Doctors, Lawyers, Diplomats etc. Trying to coordinate fastest possible relief. Calls had started flooding since early, with none else reponding. It has been gratifying, that despite limited powers & constraints, Raj Niwas & LG Secretariat were able to be of some assistance to the people of Delhi. We remain committed to none but the residents of the National Capital,” the post read.
The AAP government was under fire from the opposition BJP and Congress in the meantime.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed, “We were continuously saying corruption is prevalent in both Delhi government and MCD and both have not cleaned their drains — today’s rain has proved it,” while criticising PWD Minister Atishi’s “inefficiency” and accusing the DJB of harbouring corruption.
According to Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav, “corruption to the tune of thousands of crores takes place every year in the name of desilting of drains,” hence an investigation to determine who is responsible for the waterlogging and punish the guilty is necessary.
