The Delhi High Court in the case Court On Its Own Motion v. Govt Of NCT Of Delhi And Ors observed and has rapped the civic authorities over the issue of water-logging in the national capital and said that the drainage system here is ‘totally pathetic’ and is in ‘very bad state of affairs.’ The Division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora in the case observed and has stated that the drainage system is in a very bad state of affairs. It had totally collapsed and do we have any system in Delhi or we don’t have it? It is absolutely pathetic. In the present case, the suo motu Public Interest Litigation, PIL was initiated in the year 200 over the lack of rainwater harvesting efforts taken by the authorities and huge traffic snarls, especially during monsoon. The court while referring to various areas in the city facing the issue of water-logging remarked that the authorities must treat it as a ‘wake up call’ and ‘start working on the issue now itself.’
It has also been informed by the court to the authorities that do not wait for April or for the monsoon. To put it mildly, things are very very bad and your agencies cannot be tamed by anyone and everybody is a tiger in his own area, nobody listens to anyone or to any advice. Further, the court stated that the reform on the issue has to come from within the city authorities, while adding that the courts cannot do everything.
The court asked the authorities to get instructions on the issue, the court listed the matter for hearing next on January 16.
The court in the case was hearing the suo motu petition initiated after the court took note of an article published in the Times of India on June 18, 2022. The counsel, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Road Transport, Delhi Government, DDA Commissioner of MCD, Principal Secretary of PWD, Commissioner of Police, Spl. C.P. (Traffic), Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Cantonment Board, NDMC and Flood Irrigation Department represented the respondent.
