In a first, deep cleaning of drains begins in Faridabad

After launching a drive to clean the main sewer lines in the city, the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) has taken up the work to clean the major stormwater drains. Eight drains having a length of around 30 km will be cleaned.

According to sources in the civic administration, though the total length of main drains in the city is around 138 km, it will be for the first time that deep cleaning work has been taken up at the most vulnerable areas. The network includes 37 major and minor drains (nullahs), and most of these remain choked round the year, resulting in filthy civic conditions.

Rs 977 crore budget announced in 2023

• According to sources in the administration, though the total length of main drains in the city is around 138 km, it will be for the first time that deep cleaning work has been taken up at the most vulnerable areas.
• The network includes 37 major and minor drains (nullahs).
• Last year, the government had announced a budget of Rs 977 crore for the rejuvenation of civic amenities in the city.

“The FMDA has taken up the work to clean some of the drains that had been clogged with silt and waste, and were causing waterlogging in the city,” said

an official of the development body.

He said the drains that were identified included the ones in Lakkadpur, Sihi village, Alipur, Sehatpur, Gonchhi, along with the Mohan nullah and Budhiya nullah drains.

The issue regarding the drains being clogged was taken up during the visit of the Urban Local Bodies Minister nearly two months ago when the authorities were directed to clean up the drains to ensure proper drainage in the city.

The project will help in resolving the problem of waterlogging and choking of the drainage in major parts of the city.

The FMDA, which has already been working on the project of cleaning the sewer network, has so far completed the work on around 26-km lines. Though the work that cost around Rs 25 crore was taken up in April this year, it got halted for more than three months due to the monsoon season and

elections.

The total length of the sewer lines to be cleaned up is reported to be 99 km. While the city has a

640-km-long sewer network, the maintenance work on around one-third of the total length of the main lines had been taken over by the FMDA from the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) last year.

The department is also working on the provision of connecting the various sewer lines to curb the persistent problem of choking and overflow and disposal of untreated waste into open or in drains and water

bodies.

Last year, the state government had announced a budget of Rs 977 crore for the rejuvenation of the sewerage in the city.

FMDA Chief Engineer Vishal Bansal said besides conducting a survey, and the body had also taken up the cleaning work of some drains in the city.