New Delhi, July 9 -- The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has completed the desilting of storm water drains in the East, South and North Zones, while work in the Narela, Rohini and Dwarka Zones is in its final stages as part of its monsoon preparedness drive.

The exercise, undertaken in mission mode under the supervision of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu, aims to strengthen the city's drainage infrastructure ahead of the peak monsoon season.

According to the DDA, the Lieutenant Governor has been regularly reviewing the preparedness of various agencies and closely monitoring the progress of desilting operations to ensure residents do not face inconvenience during heavy rainfall. Acting on these directions, field-level execution was expedited and progress was monitored on a regular basis.

To streamline the exercise, Delhi was divided into six operational zones - East, South, North, Narela, Rohini and Dwarka - enabling focused planning, close supervision and timely execution.

The authority said more than 57,000 metric tonnes (MT) of silt have been removed from storm water drains this year, compared with around 33,380 MT during last year's pre-monsoon drive, marking an increase of over 70 per cent. The pre-monsoon desilting is expected to significantly improve the carrying capacity of the drainage network and ensure smoother flow of rainwater.

As part of its flood management strategy, the DDA has set up a Central Flood Control Room along with flood control rooms in all engineering zones. A dedicated 24x7 helpline is also being established for the prompt redressal of waterlogging-related complaints, while mobile pumping units have been deployed at identified vulnerable locations.

The authority said several preventive measures have also been undertaken, including drain cleaning, strengthening drainage infrastructure, installing pumping arrangements, ensuring the immediate disposal of desilted material and continuous monitoring of vulnerable stretches. These measures are aimed at improving drainage efficiency, minimising waterlogging and facilitating smoother traffic movement during the monsoon.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.