Monsoon prep in sharp focus after rain leaves city inundated

Desilting of drains underway

- Paras Singh

NEW DELHI: With torrential rainfall last Friday leaving several areas of the Capital grappling with waterlogging and inundation, residents questioned the early desilting work being carried out by agencies and alleged that the process was being carried out "selectively".

According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data, work is going on at a slow pace, with less than 25% of the target under the first phase achieved from January till April 25, even as the deadline of May 31 is less than a month away.

"Under first phase, the work of clearing the drains is carried out between January and May before the onset of monsoon. The second phase is between June and December. Bulk of the work is carried out in the first phase. We may have to extend the deadline of the first phase to June 15," a civic official, who did not wish to be named, said.