Waterlogging reaches court after last year’s flooding:Civic body faces questions over preparedness; 105 locations remain untouched

The Gwalior bench of the High Court has sought a response from the Municipal Corporation over the city’s recurring waterlogging problem. While hearing a public interest petition on Monday, the court directed the civic body to explain the steps it has taken to prevent waterlogging and remove encroachments. The next hearing is scheduled for July 7. A division bench of Justice G.S. Ahluwalia and Justice Pushpendra Yadav heard the petition filed by Captain Udesh Singh Bhadauria. During the hearing, the Municipal Corporation’s counsel, Gaurav Mishra, sought one week’s time to submit a report, which the court accepted. The corporation referred to the work carried out last year, but the court focused on the preparations made on the ground to tackle the current monsoon situation. The petitioner also raised the issue of forming a social audit committee, while the court stressed the need for details of actual work rather than paperwork. The hearing also included a discussion on claims that the city had not witnessed complete waterlogging. However, the Municipal Corporation did not make any such claim before the court. Corporation identified 236 sites in the city For the past two years, there had been significant waterlogging due to rain on roads, colonies, and other places. Because of this, water even reached the homes of the city’s residents. Despite many efforts, the public continued to suffer for several days. Following this, corporation officials identified 236 such locations which caused waterlogging. Now officials are claiming that 117 locations have been freed from waterlogging, while work is needed at 105 locations. This situation exists even as the monsoon has arrived in the state. The highest number of waterlogging sites, 90, have been reported in Gwalior East Assembly constituency. Among the areas that are yet to be freed from waterlogging, tenders have been issued for 30 sites. 4 are to be done by PWD. Officials are claiming that work is underway at 17 locations. Work orders have been issued for work at nine locations. Temporary solutions have been implemented at 12 locations. These are the waterlogging sites Sun Valley Road behind New Collectorate, Laliyapura, Hurawali Puliya, Madhav Nagar, Harishankarpuram, Adityaz Colony, Shriram Colony, Pinto Park, Vaishno Apartment, IG Office Kampu, Okho Ki Bagiya, 40 houses in Hill View Residency, Saraswati Nagar Road, Transport Nagar, Jagriti Nagar, Anand Nagar, Lakshmiganj, Lootpura, Narsingh Nagar, Sati Vihar, Indira Nagar, Old Water Treatment Plant Motijheel, Sheelnagar Colony and the city’s only Transport Nagar etc. are included.