Waterlogging: We want results, not words, HC tells civic agencies

  • 08/08/2013

  • Indian Express (New Delhi)

The Delhi High Court on Thursday expressed extreme displeasure with the civic agencies and the Delhi government for failing to take steps to curb waterlogging in the city. “We don’t like these wishy-washy affidavits... We want results, not words,” the bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmad and Justice Vibhu Bakhru said while hearing a PIL regarding waterlogging on roads and sanitation issues in the city. “Do you want the legal system to work or the mob system? If you don’t do your work, the day is coming soon when people will beat you up,” the court said. The Urban Development secretary filed a status report on Thursday giving details of the work done by the agencies and the reasons for flooding that occurred on July 20. The report raised the ire of the court. “The affidavit does not say anything about desilting. It only speaks of tasks force committees and meetings which shall go on till eternity,” the court noted. “Your status report says that stormwater drains in the city can handle 65 mm of rain per hour. And then you admit there was around 100 mm of rain in a 90-minute period on July 20. Do you think we are fools that we will not see that by your own admission, the water should have drained off in a few minutes? Why was there waterlogging for hours if your drains are adequate?” the court said.