Gurgaon, August 13, 2024 — Despite nearly ₹429 crore spent by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) on cleaning and constructing drains since the infamous “Gurujam” of 2016, the city found itself underwater once again following heavy monsoon rains on Sunday. The downpour left many areas of Gurgaon submerged, with colonies turning into islands, arterial roads flooded, and societies cut off from main roads.
Among the worst-hit areas were the upscale Golf Course Road, Narsinghpur along the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, Rajiv Chowk, and residential colonies like Sushant Lok-2, 3, Greenwood City, and Mayfield Garden. Residents, frustrated by the recurring waterlogging, voiced their concerns about the apparent ineffectiveness of the infrastructure meant to prevent such scenarios.
Investment in Infrastructure Falls Short
According to MCG data, the largest expenditure—₹227.9 crore—was directed towards repairing and maintaining sewer lines between the 2016-17 fiscal year and June 2024. An additional ₹178.4 crore was spent on laying new drains, while ₹22.4 crore was allocated to the repair and maintenance of stormwater drains during the same period. However, the effectiveness of these investments has come into question.
Vinod Arora, a resident of Sector 9A, criticized the corporation’s approach, particularly the outsourcing of desilting work to private contractors without proper oversight. “There is hardly any check on their work. It could be 20% or 70% desilted. This lack of transparency leaves residents in the dark about the actual maintenance carried out. Moreover, the construction of new drains often fails to meet proper standards, with many not even connected to an outlet or stormwater channel,” Arora said.
Call for a Revamp of City Infrastructure
Residents and experts alike are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s infrastructure. Sudakshina Laha, General Secretary of the Sushant Lok 2 and 3 RWA, emphasized the need for professional involvement in managing the city’s drainage issues. “The government needs to seriously upgrade the city’s infrastructure. If required, bring in companies from outside. The contractors and officials in Gurgaon don’t have the competence to run the show. Resident advisory panels should be constituted for different areas, and authorities should leverage this network of professionals to deal with these problems,” Laha suggested.
MCG Chief Engineer Manoj Yadav acknowledged the severity of the recent rainfall, which measured around 120mm, leading to the extensive waterlogging. “The showers on Sunday were particularly intense. We did not face such an acute problem in the previous spells of rain this year. We are working on a full-fledged plan to tackle waterlogging in the city,” Yadav said.
Gurgaon’s Vulnerability to Waterlogging
Gurgaon, surrounded by the Aravalis, is particularly prone to waterlogging, with rainwater flowing from the hills into the city’s low-lying areas. The rapid urbanization and concreting of green spaces have further exacerbated the issue, making the city more vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains.
Experts warn that the 2016 “Gurujam,” initially perceived as a one-off event, may become more frequent as erratic weather patterns persist. Mukta Naik, a Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, called for a dual approach to address the problem. “On one level, there needs to be an overhaul of the infrastructure and correcting the wrongs, such as reviving natural drainage channels. Additionally, we need tactical interventions, such as clearing debris and construction waste on the sides of roads and transforming those spaces into green areas. Regular maintenance of drains should be publicized to ensure transparency,” Naik said.
Naik also recommended the formation of a committee comprising residents and experts to develop a sustainable plan for overhauling Gurgaon’s drainage network.
As Gurgaon continues to grapple with monsoon challenges, the calls for transparency, accountability, and a strategic approach to urban planning are louder than ever.
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