NGT slams agencies over choked Barapullah drain

The National Green Tribunal has expressed disappointment over agencies not taking responsibility to desilt and dredge the Barapullah drain, stating a key segment of the drain was yet to be dredged even as it directed the Delhi chief secretary to convene a meeting of all agencies, fix responsibility and take action, according to documents seen by HT. MCD officials clear the Barapullah drain near Nizamuddin on Sunday The 16km-long drain flows through south, central and southeast Delhi, including Chirag Delhi, INA, Mehrauli, Defence Colony, GK, Nizamuddin and Pushp Vihar, before eventually meeting the Yamuna. Noting that agencies were still “playing a blame game”, NGT, in its order dated August 2 uploaded on Sunday, said that while an early segment of the drain was being dredged by the irrigation and flood control department, a portion of the drain, closer to the Yamuna was yet to be desilted by any agency and is likely causing waterlogging. “It has been pointed out by learned senior counsel appearing for the applicant that so far desilting/dredging of stretch A-1 to A-7 of Barapullah drain is concerned, the work has been taken up by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, but from A-7 to B, which is the last stretch, no work has been done and it is a crucial stretch because unless A-7 to B is dredged, the backflow will take place and desilting/dredging of upper stretches of drain will not serve any effective purpose,” NGT said in its order.