Delhi High Court directs Chief Secretary to hold meeting on storm-water drainage

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Chief Secretary to hold a meeting with officials of various civic agencies and others to resolve the waterlogging problem in the national capital during monsoons.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked the officer to prepare a document on storm-water drainage management system and a composite plan to deal with flooding.

The Delhi government submitted documents on the existing drainage in Delhi to the court, following which it asked whether something can be done to increase its stormwater-carrying capacity. 

The court has taken suo motu cognisance and initiated a public interest litigation on waterlogging in Delhi. The case will be heard next on August 17.

In the light of news reports on waterlogging, the court said it was shocking that it was happening year after year and asked why this was so.

On July 13, heavy rainfall in Delhi led to waterlogging of several arterial roads and created traffic chaos. It exposed the tall claims by civil agencies on monsoon preparedness.