SDMC issues notice to PWD for clogged drains, garbage heaps

Gearing up for the monsoon, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has issued around 280 challans and slapped notices to the Public Works Department (PWD) for clogged drains and garbage heaps on roads maintained by the Delhi government agency.

In the past one month, many drains maintained by the PWD were found to be laden with silt and garbage. Such drains not only serve as breeding grounds for aedes mosquitoes, causing dengue and malaria, but also lead to waterlogging during monsoon, said Shailender Singh, chairman of the SDMC’s Standing Committee.

“In the past one month, the SDMC has issued around 280 challans against the PWD. Challans and notices will be issued repeatedly if corrective measures are found to be lacking in case of specific cases of congested, overflowing drains and unattended garbage and construction waste,” Singh said.

From Monday onwards, the officials and leaders of the civic body will go on rounds to inspect and identify drains and roads that have not been desilted and maintained.

“The challan is of Rs 500 only, but we are using it to wake them up and ensure desilting of drains and removal of garbage and debris on roads before the rainy season starts,” he said.

The SDMC takes care of its drains, but flooding and mosquito-breeding complaints pour in high numbers during the rainy season. So, the corporation has launched the drive, said a senior municipal officer.

In SDMC areas, the localities lying under South zone of the municipal corporation are prone to waterlogging and flooding and as such most of the challans have issued in the zone, he said. The drive would be intensified in coming days, he added.