Citizens say Water Logging a big issue in most Indian cities and needs action

New Delhi, India, July 28th, 2016 The arrival of monsoon is followed by water logging in cities across India. Municipal Corporations who are responsible for preparing for monsoons rarely pay this issue much attention though there is dedicated budget for it. The budget for monsoon preparation included clearing all storm drains, repairing roads much in advance, creating alternative pathways for traffic etc.

Citizens in every city complain about water logging every monsoon, the political leadership at local level is aware of it, but state and city administration even now in the key metros continues to ignore this issue.

What the government needs to realise is that water logging has a direct impact on GDP and GSDP. Every city has lakhs of commuters whose work life is hampered due to this water logging. In some of the cities like Bengaluru it affects the software industry badly. With white and blue collar workers stuck in traffic it is as if the whole GDP of the country has come to a standstill during this period.

India’s largest citizen engagement platform LocalCircles did a poll across the metro cities to understand the extent of this problem. Citizens in Delhi claim that they lost the most time due to water logging with 78 % saying loss in hours. This is followed by 68 % in Chennai, 66% in Mumbai and 58% in Bengaluru. Such a massive disruption of work life of citizens due to mismanagement means that a much more integrated approach from the central government is needed on this issue.

# Poll Question

Citizen inputs on what can be done immediately to address the issue of waterlogging in this monsoon season:

• 1. Citizens should be informed about not throwing the garbage in the drains
• 2. Sale of polythene could be banned for a few months as waste polythene choke the drains
• 3. Roads which get water logged every season should be identified and water pumps should be installed to clear the water
• 4. The broken pumps in underpasses and subways should be immediately repaired/changed
• 5. Roads dug should not be left open for more than 48 hours and proper barricading should be done to prevent accidents
• 6. A helpline should be started where citizens could report instances of water logging
• 7. Usage of pervious cement blocks for pavements and driveways, parking lots etc. which allows rain water to drain down into the earth up to 50 percent
• 8. Place embedded Garbage Bins in close proximity in each locality/ area with organized mechanized collection and disposal by RWA/ Municipality so that garbage does not block drains
• 9. Ensure sieves are put for every opening and that they stay there
• 10. Municipal enforcement should ensure construction material is not left on the roads
• 11. Low lying areas should be identified and adequate pumping arrangement into proper disposal facility should be arranged
• 12. Pot holes on the major city roads should be filled

Citizen Pulse on Water Logging and Loss of Productivity in 4 Metros

#Poll 1 - Delhi

#Poll 2 - Mumbai

#Poll 3 - Chennai

#Poll 3 - Bangalore

About LocalCircles

LocalCircles takes Social Media to the next level and makes it about Communities, Governance and Utility. It enables citizens to connect with communities for most aspects of urban daily life like Neighborhood, Constituency, City, Government, Causes, Interests and Needs, seek information/assistance when needed, come together for various initiatives and improve their urban daily life. LocalCircles is free for citizens and always will be!