The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Why was desilting not done?’: RWAS raise questions as water enters homes
NO TWO places in Delhi could be more different than the two parts of Nizamuddin area — home to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya shrine, Humayun’s Tomb, and Sunder Nursery. While its east side boast of posh residences, the west is a maze of congested colonies with scant civic amenities. Friday’s rain, though, merged the differences as residents of both areas struggled with kneedeep water all around them.
“I woke up to at least 4-5 feet of waterlogging around. Nobody could get out of their houses,” says Danish, a resident of Nizamuddin West.
Shavez Abbasi, a resident of thedarg ah, says ,“all our electronics items are now inundated .”
Rafiq Ahmad says he could not offer Friday prayers as the water had entered the mosque.
Arsalan Jaffri, who owns a school garments shop, says, “Most of the uniforms are white; it will be very difficult to clean them now.”
Standing outside a library, Naseer Uddin says, “The library operates from a basement, which is now full of water. The books must all be totally spoiled.”
On the other side of the Barapullah Nullah, at the posh Nizamuddin East, the foul stench of sewage water was unavoidable. “From G1 to G60, every house is inundated,” says Ramesh, who works at a residence here.
“The Barapullah nullah hasn’t been cleaned in years...,” says Raja Naim, standing on his balcony, waiting for the water to drain out.
The downpour also took a toll on the Prachin Hanuman Mandir, built in 1860. “The roof has collapsed. Water has entered the premises. Politicians only visit mosques and temples when they want votes...,” says Shekher Rai, who works at the temple.
Other upscale areas fare no better
The situation was no different at other upscale localities such as Defence Colony, Vasant Kunj and Jangpura. Sharaf Sabri, president of the Jangpura Extension RWA, says, “Many areas are completely waterlogged.”
Vijay Kumar Bharadwaj, president of Defence Colony A Block RWA, says, “The water has reached the lift areas, causing the electricity to be cut... Sewage has entered our residences, even though this is supposedly an affluent area.”
Sharad Vashisht, president of the Mehrauli RWA, says, “We would need a tractor now. No car can wade through this much water.” Savita Soni from Vasant Kunj RWA says, “The MCD left the silt on the side of the drains which flowed right back in after the rain...”
According to Saurabh Gandhi, general secretary of the United Residents of Delhi, a coalition of 1,800 RWAS, “This is a failure on the part of all government agencies — PWD, MCD, DJB.”
At Connaught Place, where water entered several shops, Atul Bhargava, president of the Traders’ Association, says, “We pay the highest property tax in the country, but civic amenities are not commensurate with the money collected.”
Sanjay Bhargava, president of Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association, says, “I have suffered great losses as most of my stock is now wet.”