Observing that the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi has overlooked drainage system of unauthorised colonies, the Delhi High Court today asked the city government to include it in its new schemes.
The court said that due to encroachments and unauthorised colonies, city's drainage channels were blocked causing heavy water logging during monsoon, and suggested that if needed, relocation of unauthorised colonies should be considered if it is found that their existence chokes the natural flow of water in the 17 major drains in Delhi.
It also expressed its displeasure over failure of Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) to prevent encroachments in their areas.
"The Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2021 has overlooked (1) Water holding capacity of different catchment areas and ponds etc. (ii) Overall drainage system of unauthorised colonies ...," a bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana said hearing a batch of petitions, raising waterlogging issues in various areas of the city.
The bench also comprising Justice Pradeep Nandrajog referred to the drainage scheme prepared by an expert committee under the aegis of an IIT Delh professor, which was set up by the government to control water-logging during monsoon and directed the government to include the drainage system of unauthorised colonies and file a compliance report by March 2013.
"The conceptual plan is scientific and we are of the opinion that the only tweaking it requires is on the three aspects.....
"Thus, we direct that while preparing the plan the expert body would include within its proposals the overall drainage system of unauthorised colonies and if need be relocation of unauthorised colonies along the major drains if it is found that their existence chokes the natural flow of water in the 17 major drains in Delhi."
The court said, "Accordingly, we issue the direction that the Committee tasked with the functions...Would expeditiously submit a report which shall be placed before this court on March 26, 2014.
