India, Aug. 27 -- Delhi L-G Sardar TS Sandhu has directed all concerned departments and agencies to treat the waterlogging situation in the Capital as a disaster requiring a war-footing response, ordering the installation of pumps to be expedited across identified vulnerable points so that waterlogging does not occur in the first place. Reviewing the situation at a late evening meeting on Tuesday following heavy and record downpour within a short span across various locations, the L-G directed departmental and agency heads to remain actively present on the ground round the clock. He said a "whole of government" approach was non-negotiable, with all departments and agencies required to work in complete synergy rather than in silos. Sandhu also directed all heads to be physically present on the streets during flooding situations to personally oversee remedial measures instead of monitoring developments from their offices. Also Read - H1N1 hits 2,446 in Capital Advertisement The meeting was attended by the CEO of Delhi Jal Board, Principal Secretary (PWD), Chairman of NDMC, Special CP (Traffic), Divisional Commissioner, Additional Commissioners of MCD, and E-in-Cs and Chief Engineers of the concerned departments and agencies. At the outset, officials informed the meeting that while the situation was not fully satisfactory, it was far better than the preceding three monsoons. Several proactive steps had been taken, though the near-total collapse of drainage and related infrastructure due to inaction over the previous decade or so had created legacy issues that were taking time to be fully addressed. He also directed agencies to prioritise real time redressal of citizen concerns raised through media, social media and other platforms, stressing continuous oversight, timely action and visible results on the ground.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.