Delhi's Drainage System In 'Very Bad State', High Court Raps Civic Authorities Over Water-Logging

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rapped the civic authorities over the issue of water-logging in the national capital and said that the drainage system here is “totally pathetic” and is in “very bad state of affairs.”

“The drainage system is in a very bad state of affairs. It had totally collapsed. Do we have a drainage system in Delhi or we don't have it? It is absolutely pathetic,” a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said.

The court was dealing with a suo motu PIL initiated by it in 2022 over lack of rainwater harvesting efforts taken by the authorities and huge traffic snarls, especially during monsoon.

While referring to various areas in the city facing the issue of water-logging, the court remarked that the authorities must treat it as a "wake up call” and “start working on the issue now itself.”

“Don't wait for April or for the monsoon. To put it mildly, things are very very bad and you agencies cannot be tamed by anyone. Everybody is a tiger in his own area, nobody listens to anyone or to any advice,” the court told the authorities.

It further said that the reform on the issue has to come from within the city authorities, adding that the courts “cannot do everything.”

While asking the authorities to get instructions on the issue, the court listed the matter for hearing next on January 16.

The suo motu PIL was initiated after the court took note of an article published in the Times of India on June 18, 2022.

The respondents in the matter are Centre through Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Road Transport, Delhi Government, DDA Commissioner of MCD, Principal Secretary of PWD, Commissioner of Police, Spl. C.P. (Traffic), Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Cantonment Board, NDMC and Flood Irrigation Department.

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.