MCDs announce to carry out desilting in unauthorised colonies

 The MCDs, which were reluctant to carry out works in unauthorised areas of the city, said that in view of the Monsoon season, work will be completed as soon as possible. 

Notably, the MCDs claim that they are not authorised to collect taxes from unauthorised colonies hence the Delhi government should look after the entire affairs except sanitation activity in these colonies. The government, however, has clearly asked to carry out desilting from these colonies as they are very much part of the city.

The Leader of House of North Corporation Vijay Prakash Pandey, in a statement, said that the Corporation can now carry out the work of desiliting of drains and repair and maintenance of drains in unauthorised colonies. 

According to him, the Engineering and DEMS departments of the Corporation may carry out repair and maintenance of stormwater drains in unauthorised colonies falling under the North Corporation’s jurisdiction. Pandey further said that the departments concerned have to ensure that repair and maintenance of such drains is confined only to the length and breadth of the drains in an unauthorised colony.

“The decision has been taken with an objective of keeping the unauthorised colonies hassle-free during rain. So that, these colonies do not have waterlogging issues and proper outfall of stormwater can be maintained,” Pandey said. He said that the work should be done as per the guidelines issued by the Govternment of NCT of Delhi from time to time.

Last year, the Delhi government had laid a roadmap for work in unathorised colonies, with saying that government’s move will benefit lakhs of people living in such colonies. It has directed the civic bodies to put details of development work on their website and colonies where laying of roads will take three years, brick pavements will be provided, and where the width of road is greater than 6 metre, bituminous roads will be provided.

“For those areas where laying of water and sewerage services are planned within a time of three years, brick pavements would be laid. If required, storm water drains would be covered with slabs of required strength. 

Executing agencies will furnish progress reports and utilisation certificates to the civic body on regular basis,” said an EDMC official. There are about 1,750 unauthorised colonies in the Capital which lack proper roads and drainage system.