[ad_1]
Amid torrential rains, waterlogging and road caverns in Delhi, Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged all political parties to rally to help people, saying it was not the time to point fingers at each other.
“I would like to thank all the leaders, ministers and MLAs including those from other parties for coming down to earth and helping people at this time. I know there are officials who have been working through the night to avoid any kind of incident.”
The Prime Minister held a meeting with his senior officers and Cabinet Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj and Mayor Shelly Oberoi to review the situation in Delhi. On July 8 and 9, Delhi experienced 153 mm of rain. This year’s rain broke the 40-year-old record. In 1982, it was 162 mm. So this was unprecedented rain and the Delhi system is not designed to handle that much rain.
In the past few years, he said, rainfall has exceeded 100-115 mm and every year waterlogging has been reported. “It used to be cleaned up in an hour or so. But this is the first time that Delhi has seen such unprecedented rain. That is why the public must have problems this year.
Speaking about the rise in water level in the Yamuna River, Kejriwal said, “At the moment there are no flood forecasts in Delhi. We are in constant touch with the Central Chamber of Flood Control and flood experts. We are ready to handle any situation. If the Yamuna water level rises to about 206 pm, then we will begin the evacuation.”
There are 41,000 people living around Yamuna in slums and Jhopris. Kejriwal said that the government has made relief camps and all other arrangements for these residents in case of emergency.
Kejriwal said that as the rains continue, potholes on the roads have been and will be upgraded. “Repairing the potholes is not possible at present due to the rain. But we have taken a temporary measure to avoid accidents. MCD and people with disabilities have given directions to fill the potholes with stones,” he said.
The government directed to stop construction work and open all drainage lines. “Sewer lines are closed when construction works are taking place. We have instructed officials to stop construction and open all sewage lines. Safai Karamacharis has been deployed to keep away plastics.
Kejriwal said the government had also asked the traffic police to increase force at vulnerable points.
The Prime Minister said the NDMC has been asked to conduct a detailed study on the cause of significant waterlogging in its districts. “This is not to blame anyone, but just to check why so much waterlogging is happening in NDMC areas,” he said.
The government also sought a report about the caves on the roads.
[ad_2]
