Firhad instructs ULBs to take steps to combat waterlogging

Firhad Hakim, state Urban Development minister has instructed all the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) to take appropriate measures to combat waterloggiong during monsoon.

Hakim recently held a meeting with senior officials of the department to discuss the matter.

He has instructed all ULBs to clean the drains and gullypits and remove solid wastes regularly. The pumps to clear accumulated water should be kept ready and additional pumps should be kept as standby to clear accumulated water.

Moreover, all the ULBs will have to set up control rooms and designate a nodal officer whose name, mobile number will be given to the public to provide information. A WhatsApp number will be circulated for sharing information and lodging complaints. The leaves of all the engineers and staff attached to the storm water drainage management system shall be cancelled during monsoon.

The steps have been taken as waterlogging during heavy shower is a major problem in some pockets of Kolkata, Howrah and in the municipalities in North and South 24 Parganas adjoining Kolkata. There are pockets in Kolkata and in adjoining districts where the accumulated water is cleared not before 48 hours after the rain stops. There are low lying pockets from where people have to be evacuated and taken to safer places during heavy showers. Hakim said steps have already been taken by most of the ULBs to combat heavy showers.

Sovan Chatterjee, Mayor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said all the pumps in the city are functioning and the stand by pumps have also been checked. He assured that even if there is waterlogging due to heavy shower, the accumulated water will recede fast. Chatterjee himself supervises the arrangements to combat waterlogging every year. It may be mentioned that due to proper planning, there is no waterlogging in some pockets of the city which earlier used to be flooded during monsoon like Ahmerst Street, Sukia Street, areas surrounding Rabindra Sadan and Assembly House.