By Ramakant Chaudhary
Every year the Monsoon season in Delhi NCR brings a host of challenges and difficulties for its residents. This time again it pounded Delhi-NCR badly and paralyzed daily life of people dropping bombshells on the hustling bustling of weekend markets. Schools in Delhi NCR remained closed and administration appealed residents not to leave their houses except for essential work. The incessant rains caused catastrophic devastation in the hill and plains of North India for the last three days. It unleashed death and destruction, with around 38 lost their lives in landslides and other rain-related incidents. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are on their toes in four North Indian states (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana) to fend off challenges of heavy downpours and floods.
It was a rare occurrence that monsoons landed in Delhi and Mumbai last weekend on the same day. But it is not rare that mayhem follows every arrival of the monsoon. Roads turning into rivers, drains overflowing, traffic congestion and failure of signals, accidental fall into invisible coverless manholes, waterlogging, downstairs houses being inundated with rainwater even in posh areas of Delhi-NCR, falling trees, and electrocution: these are annual phenomenon that taxpayers of national capita and surrounding areas have to confront. The administrative slackness and civil society apathy are exposed once again. In every such situation, “Tu-Tu, Main-Main” over political claims surfaces rubbing salts over the wounds of people who are bound to suffer monsoon woes every year.
Delhi deluge
The monsoonal rainfall caught civic authorities in Delhi vastly unprepared to handle the water woes. Delhi witnesses waterlogging and poor drainage system annually during the monsoon. However, the national capital is yet to get a Drainage Master Plan to tackle such a situation. Delhi’s drains are said to be quite old which cannot handle deluge-like situations. People strongly feel that the lackadaisical attitude of MCD has caused such sufferings as drains are clogged and they have not been desilted before the arrival of monsoon.
Gasping Gurugram
People in Gurugram underwent a harrowing experience as torrential rains caused severe waterlogging that led to huge inconvenience to commuters. Waterlogging also caused power outages in some parts of the satellite town. The Gurugram administration had to issue a work-from-home advisory to corporate and private offices in the face of heavy rainfalls. As per media reports, civic agencies have spent over Rs 1000 crore on drainage, yet people have to face the threat of waterlogging. A single heavy bout of rain turns roads into rivers. Residents have poured out their anger saying that the situation remains the same despite authorities spending crores on upgrading infrastructure every year.
Rampant urbanization
Delhi NCR has experienced rapid population growth and urban expansion over the years, leading to the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. This rampant urbanization has encroached upon lakes, ponds, and wetlands, which traditionally served as natural water reservoirs and helped in water absorption during heavy rains. The loss of these natural water bodies has resulted in reduced water retention capacity and increased surface runoff, exacerbating the problem of waterlogging.
Administrative apathy
The pollution levels in Delhi NCR also contribute to Monsoon woes. The region already battles severe air pollution, which is primarily caused by vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and construction dust. During the Monsoon season, when the air is cooler and heavier, the pollutants get trapped closer to the ground, worsening the air quality. This phenomenon, known as the “Monsoon pollution trap,” leads to reduced visibility, respiratory problems, and overall discomfort for the residents. Additionally, the Monsoon season often exposes the inadequate solid waste management practices in the region. Improper disposal of waste, including plastic bags, bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials, leads to their accumulation in drains and water bodies. These clogged drains prevent proper water flow, exacerbating the problem of waterlogging. Furthermore, the stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying vectors, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
Need of monsoon wedding between words & actions
A combination of factors leads to Monsoon woes in Delhi NCR. These include inadequate drainage systems, rapid urbanization and encroachment of natural water bodies, pollution levels, improper solid waste management practices, the impact of climate change, slackness of authorities concerned and lack of political will. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach involving investments in infrastructure development, sustainable urban planning, improved waste management practices, and measures to mitigate climate change. Instead of playing blame games, there must be a monsoon wedding between words and actions to make Delhi NCR more vibrant and livable. By addressing these challenges, Delhi NCR can better prepare itself to tackle Monsoon-related issues and ensure the well-being of its residents during the rainy season.
– RAMAKANT CHAUDHARY
Ramakant Chaudhary works with PR Professionals as DGM-Content Development, and has worked in various editorial roles with Financial Express, Mint (Hindustan Times Group), The Times Of India, Jagran Post (Dainik Jagran Group), The Pioneer, and The Political and Business Daily. He writes on politics, government policy, economy, infrastructure, real estate, social issues, lifestyle, and health
