MCD reports drop in waterlogging locations, ramps up monsoon response measures

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) Delhi recorded 169 waterlogging locations during the 2025 monsoon, down from 194 in 2024, with the MCD claiming only nine of these fall under its jurisdiction, officials said on Thursday. According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD's) monsoon preparedness report for 2026, most of the waterlogging stretches identified by the Delhi Traffic Police are maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD), while only nine locations are under the civic body's jurisdiction. It further suggested that waterlogging at these locations generally lasts between one and three hours, causing traffic disruption and inconvenience to commuters. To ensure a swift response during heavy rainfall, nodal officers have been assigned for each of the 793 major drains and all identified waterlogging points under the MCD's jurisdiction. According to the official report, to tackle water accumulation during the monsoon, the civic body has kept 79 permanent pumping stations operational round-the-clock with dedicated staff and nodal officers. It has also increased the number of temporary pumps from 427 last year to 465 this year, while another 40 pumps are under procurement. The civic body said it had removed 1,80,595 metric tonnes of silt from 793 major drains covering 545.35 km up to July 3, achieving 128.08 per cent of its desilting target of 1,41,003 metric tonnes. It said desilting of major drains is being carried out through outsourced agencies using excavators, JCBs and manual labour, while 2,239 "nallah beldars" have been deployed to clear floating waste on a daily basis. The MCD has also set up 12 zonal control rooms and a central command and control room at its headquarters, besides constituting ward-level teams to respond to complaints and emergencies during heavy rainfall. The report said all zonal heads have been directed to remain on alert and ensure prompt deployment of manpower and machinery to minimise waterlogging in areas under the corporation's jurisdiction. PTI VBH SMV SMV MDO MDO