Heavy rain and severe waterlogging in Gurugram have triggered a political war of words between the BJP and Congress. Four-time Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh said the steps currently being taken to deal with waterlogging are only a “band-aid solution” and that the city needs a permanent drainage system.
His remarks came after heavy rain brought several parts of Gurugram to a standstill on August 24. The city recorded 75 mm of rain between 8 am and 5 pm, leading to flooded roads, traffic disruption and school buses getting stranded.
Following the situation, the district administration advised offices to allow employees to work from home on August 25.
Rao Inderjit Singh blames old development
Rao Inderjit Singh, who is also Union Minister of State for Culture, said Gurugram’s waterlogging problem is connected to construction over traditional drainage channels.
According to him, rainwater from the hills earlier flowed through these drains towards the Yamuna, but development over these routes affected the natural flow of water.
Singh blamed development carried out during the Congress era for the current situation. He said the city is still facing the consequences of those decisions.
Singh himself was with the Congress when he was first elected as Gurugram MP in 2009. He joined the BJP in 2014 and has since won the constituency three times on a BJP ticket. The BJP has been in power in Haryana since 2014.
Underground tunnels proposed as permanent solution
Singh said underground tunnels should be constructed along the routes of the old drains to provide a permanent solution to Gurugram’s waterlogging problem.
He compared the proposed system to underground Metro tunnels and said it could help channel rainwater through its original routes.
According to Singh, the government is working on the proposal and efforts are being made to arrange the required funds.
Congress targets BJP government
Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala criticised the BJP-led Haryana government over the situation.
He alleged that Gurugram’s infrastructure had “collapsed” despite around Rs 1,400 crore being spent in recent years. Surjewala pointed to flooded roads, stranded school buses and the work-from-home advisory while questioning the government’s handling of the problem.
School buses stranded, children rescued
Gurugram witnessed severe flooding after around 70 mm of rain fell within 35 minutes on August 24. Several major roads and underpasses went underwater.
Around 15 vehicles, including nine school buses, were stranded at Subhash Chowk. More than 300 schoolchildren were stuck for nearly two hours.
In another incident, a school van carrying nursery students became trapped on a waterlogged road for several hours. The children were later rescued.
Road caves in near IFFCO Chowk
A section of a service lane along the Delhi-Jaipur highway also caved in near IFFCO Chowk, creating a large pit.
A Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority team reached the spot after receiving information about the incident.
Officials said the sewer line leakage would first be repaired. Since the service lane is part of the Delhi-Jaipur highway, the National Highways Authority of India will carry out the road repair work after that.
Despite 408 rainwater harvesting systems being installed in areas under the municipal corporation, Gurugram continues to face serious waterlogging during heavy monsoon rains.
