Much confusion on who does what, even upkeep of drains: HC to Delhi government

NEW DELHI: The time has come for Delhi government to take a comprehensive decision on how civic services should be managed, the high court said Monday, citing the "enormous confusion" among various agencies, even on the key issue of controlling waterlogging. This, it said, had led to "passing the buck on most occasions".

It cited a "glaring example" of such confusion in the way stormwater drains fall under PWD, while sewage line maintenance is under MCD, lamenting that this has "led to non-maintenance of either of the lines, leading to excessive flooding in Delhi".

"Neither of these drain pipes is being properly managed by the respective agency, which seems to be passing the responsibility to the other agency," a special bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora noted.

In most colonies, it added, stormwater drains were also blocked by residents or constructions, leaving them "perpetually clogged". Directing that its order be sent to the chief secretary, who in turn should place it before the highest functionaries of Delhi government, the court said the authorities must decide on centralising the administration and management of drains. If required, the matter would be placed before Delhi's lieutenant governor, the court added.

'Multiplicity of agencies leads to passing of buck'

The high court was hearing two suo motu petitions dealing with waterlogging and rainwater harvesting, besides easing traffic jams in the national capital during the monsoon and at other times of the year.

In the pending petition, a fresh plea was filed by the Residents Welfare Association of Maharani Bagh, saying a new problem arose due to the action of the Delhi govt's public works department (PWD). The court has been examining various aspects related to the Taimur Nagar drain adjacent to Maharani Bagh colony and has been issuing directions from time to time.

During the latest hearing, the bench was informed that certain well marks or holes were made in the walls on the ring road through which water flowed into the Maharani Bagh colony, flooding the area.

The PWD argued that these were not new holes but well marks that already existed and were blocked by the residents and had now been opened. The court was also informed that the road was earlier with the PWD and is now with the MCD.

The court noted that the residents' plea showed the apathy prevalent in Delhi due to multiple agencies functioning and pointed out that it has to summon agencies, including MCD, PWD, DJB, DDA, and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, before it for a consensus to be arrived at, and for effective implementation of its directions.

"Between these agencies, there is enormous confusion, which is caused due to improper delineation of responsibilities, leading to passing the buck on most occasions," the court said. On the Maharani Bagh issue, the bench directed the PWD and MCD to hold a meeting with the residents on Aug 2 after conducting a site inspection and file a joint status report on the efforts to solve the issue.

The high court also sought the presence of an official from AIIMS to answer why there was a delay in clearances relating to the laying down of a new sewer pipeline in the area.