Daily brief: Delhi L-G’s big claim on Kejriwal-led flood control panel

Even as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal convened a meeting of ministers and directed them to assume responsibility for six flooded districts in the nation’s capital, fl Even as Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal convened a meeting of ministers and directed them to assume responsibility for six districts inundated by Yamuna floodwaters, officials from the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) House noted that the “apex committee for flood control headed by the Delhi chief minister has not met in the last two years.”

The government led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated that they have been evaluating flood and water logging issues on a regular basis with irrigation & flood control (I&FC) minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and Public Works Department (PWD) minister Atishi, and the chief minister has also been keeping an eye on the situation.

Sunday, accompanied by Atishi, Kejriwal visited a flood relief camp in north Delhi’s Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in an effort to bolster relief and rehabilitation efforts for approximately 25,000 displaced or affected individuals. Minister of Delhi Bharadwaj also inspected a Mayur Vihar relief camp. Today, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena also inspected flood-affected areas in the Raj Ghat neighbourhood of Delhi.

The 22-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi traverses six districts, portions of which are flooded by the river or as a result of the rise in water level and clogged sewers.

A representative of the LG House stated that the mandatory meeting of the apex flood control committee should have occurred by the end of June.

“As chairman of the committee, the chief minister decided not to hold the meeting this year, despite the revenue department transferring a file to that effect on June 19.” Even the previous year, the meeting did not occur. “This year’s flood control order was issued without a meeting of the apex committee and without any prior planning,” the official added.

All Delhi government ministers, members of parliament, four MLAs, the chief secretary, the commissioner of police, an MCD commissioner, the heads of NDMC, DJB, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army, a member of the Central Water Commission, and other stakeholders make up the CM-led high power committee.

The commission is expected to monitor danger levels, protect vulnerable areas, and ensure coordination between various Delhi government agencies, the Indian government, the army, and the Central Water Commission (CWC).

The panel is scheduled to convene annually prior to the onset of the monsoon at the end of June in order to assess the current situation and issue a flood control order for that year.

“The panel takes into account threats and projections, assesses preparedness, and ensures a coordination mechanism between various departments and agencies to handle any eventuality,” a government official with knowledge of the situation explained.

According to an order issued on June 19 by the East district magistrate, who is the nodal officer of this apex committee, a proposal was sent to the chief minister of Delhi for suggesting a suitable time for a meeting in the last week of June. The order also notes that “no formal apex committee meeting was held in 2022” and that the deputy chief minister issued the flood control order.

The file was returned on June 26 with a note stating, “The honourable prime minister has requested that the honourable minister of revenue convene the meeting.”

“Revenue minister Atishi did not convene a meeting of the apex committee, but her officer on special duty issued an order to conduct a brief meeting on June 30. The DM office issued a notice on June 27 for this brief meeting, but the minister was too occupied avoiding the oath of the new DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission) Chairman to attend. A second meeting was conducted on the 6th of July, after which a ‘half-baked’ order for flood control was issued without informing the major stakeholders, according to an LG house official.

 

The official added that ministers in Delhi are blaming everyone but themselves for the flooding, but the government has no one else to accuse but itself. The AAP-led Delhi government stated that the “Flood Control Order was issued in accordance with procedure and with historical data for Delhi in mind.”

The essential panel’s functions include monitoring threat levels and flashing warnings. When water discharge from Hathini Kund exceeds 100,000 cusec in Yamuna and 35,000 cusec in Najafgarh Drain, the first warning is issued. The second level of warning is triggered when water from Hathini Kund exceeds 300,000 cusec in Yamuna and 70,000 cusec in Najafgarh Drain, and the third level of warning is triggered when water from Hathini Kund exceeds 500,000 cusec. The panel can request military assistance and issue directives for protecting vulnerable areas.

The Delhi government stated in an official response that it has been reviewing flood and waterlogging issues consistently since May.

“On May 9, I&FC minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and PWD minister Atishi co-chaired a meeting at which all departments including PWD, MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), I&FC, DJB (Delhi Jal Board), DDA (Delhi Development Authority), & NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) were present and preparations for flooding and water logging were reviewed. Subsequently, regular interdepartmental meetings have been held to resolve any issues related to flooding and waterlogging. The prime minister himself has been monitoring the situation. The Flood Control Order was issued in accordance with protocol and with historical information about Delhi in mind.”

Floodwaters from the Yamuna, officials from the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) House have reported that the “chief minister-led apex committee for flood control has not met in the last two years.”

The government led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated that they have been evaluating flood and water logging issues on a regular basis with irrigation & flood control (I&FC) minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and Public Works Department (PWD) minister Atishi, and the chief minister has also been keeping an eye on the situation.

Sunday, accompanied by Atishi, Kejriwal visited a flood relief camp in north Delhi’s Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in an effort to bolster relief and rehabilitation efforts for approximately 25,000 displaced or affected individuals. Minister of Delhi Bharadwaj also inspected a Mayur Vihar relief camp. Today, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena also inspected flood-affected areas in the Raj Ghat neighbourhood of Delhi.

 

The 22-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi traverses six districts, portions of which are flooded by the river or as a result of the rise in water level and clogged sewers.

A representative of the LG House stated that the mandatory meeting of the apex flood control committee should have occurred by the end of June.

“As chairman of the committee, the chief minister decided not to hold the meeting this year, despite the revenue department transferring a file to that effect on June 19.” Even the previous year, the meeting did not occur. “This year’s flood control order was issued without a meeting of the apex committee and without any prior planning,” the official added.

All Delhi government ministers, members of parliament, four MLAs, the chief secretary, the commissioner of police, an MCD commissioner, the heads of NDMC, DJB, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army, a member of the Central Water Commission, and other stakeholders make up the CM-led high power committee.

The commission is expected to monitor danger levels, protect vulnerable areas, and ensure coordination between various Delhi government agencies, the Indian government, the army, and the Central Water Commission (CWC).

The panel is scheduled to convene annually prior to the onset of the monsoon at the end of June in order to assess the current situation and issue a flood control order for that year.

“The panel takes into account threats and projections, assesses preparedness, and ensures a coordination mechanism between various departments and agencies to handle any eventuality,” a government official with knowledge of the situation explained.

According to an order issued on June 19 by the East district magistrate, who is the nodal officer of this apex committee, a proposal was sent to the chief minister of Delhi for suggesting a suitable time for a meeting in the last week of June. The order also notes that “no formal apex committee meeting was held in 2022” and that the deputy chief minister issued the flood control order.

The file was returned on June 26 with a note stating, “The honourable prime minister has requested that the honourable minister of revenue convene the meeting.”

“Revenue minister Atishi did not convene a meeting of the apex committee, but her officer on special duty issued an order to conduct a brief meeting on June 30. The DM office issued a notice on June 27 for this brief meeting, but the minister was too occupied avoiding the oath of the new DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission) Chairman to attend. A second meeting was conducted on the 6th of July, after which a ‘half-baked’ order for flood control was issued without informing the major stakeholders, according to an LG house official.

 

The official added that ministers in Delhi are blaming everyone but themselves for the flooding, but the government has no one else to accuse but itself. The AAP-led Delhi government stated that the “Flood Control Order was issued in accordance with procedure and with historical data for Delhi in mind.”

The essential panel’s functions include monitoring threat levels and flashing warnings. When water discharge from Hathini Kund exceeds 100,000 cusec in Yamuna and 35,000 cusec in Najafgarh Drain, the first warning is issued. The second level of warning is triggered when water from Hathini Kund exceeds 300,000 cusec in Yamuna and 70,000 cusec in Najafgarh Drain, and the third level of warning is triggered when water from Hathini Kund exceeds 500,000 cusec. The panel can request military assistance and issue directives for protecting vulnerable areas.

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The Delhi government stated in an official response that it has been reviewing flood and waterlogging issues consistently since May.

“On May 9, I&FC minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and PWD minister Atishi co-chaired a meeting at which all departments including PWD, MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), I&FC, DJB (Delhi Jal Board), DDA (Delhi Development Authority), & NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) were present and preparations for flooding and water logging were reviewed. Subsequently, regular interdepartmental meetings have been held to resolve any issues related to flooding and waterlogging. The prime minister himself has been monitoring the situation. The Flood Control Order was issued in accordance with protocol and with historical information about Delhi in mind.”