IIT-Roorkee entrusted work to resolve issue of waterlogging in Ambala

IIT-Roorkee has been entrusted with the task to prepare a project to resolve the long-pending issue of waterlogging in Ambala City.

A majority of the areas of the city get flooded even after a brief spell of rain, causing heavy losses and inconvenience to local residents.

The area under the limits of the Municipal Corporation, Ambala, will be covered under the project and a team of IIT-Roorkee is expected to reach Ambala City in December for a field visit.

Even after spending a huge budget on the works to prevent waterlogging and cleaning of drains by the Municipal Corporation of Ambala, the Ambala City witnesses severe waterlogging every year and several areas remain waterlogged for days. This year, the corporation had allotted a tender of Rs 41.9 lakh for the cleaning of three major drains (Ghel, Inco and session drain), while employees of the corporation were engaged for the cleaning of 89 minor drains, but the rain left the city inundated for two days in August.

Various localities, including Shakti Nagar, Model Town, Nadi Mohalla, Dashmesh Colony, Clothes market, Shukalkund road, Khanna Palace Road, Manav Chowk, Sector 8-9, Jandli, court complex and the DC office, were among the affected areas.

While the residents blame the lack of cleaning and delay in starting cleaning process, officials blame heavy rains and topographical conditions of the city for flooding. They say the construction of new highways have also obstructed the natural flow of water.

After the city witnessed heavy rainfall and subsequent severe waterlogging in the last three seasons, former Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel had asked the district administration to discuss the matter with the higher officials and get in touch with IIT-Roorkee for a long-term solution.

Deputy Commissioner Parth Gupta said, “To resolve the issue of waterlogging, a project is being prepared and it will cover the area under Municipal Corporation. A detailed project report (DPR) for the project will be prepared soon for which all the departments concerned have been directed to share their details, water carrying capacity, size, length and drawings related to drains, canals and nullahs with the Public Health and Engineering Department. Officials of the National Highways Authority of India have also been asked to share the technical data and information related to the NH-152-D with the Public Health and Engineering Department for this project.”

“A survey of this area will be conducted soon. The objective of this project is to ensure smooth discharge of rainwater and to make sure that there is no waterlogging in any area of Ambala city. This is a big project and it will provide relief to lakhs of people. All efforts are being made to get the project ready at the earliest so that the residents don’t face any inconvenience during the rainy days,” he said.