Haryana govt directs Gurugram administration to prepare comprehensive flood management plan

     Chandigarh, Nov 12 (PTI) The Haryana government has ordered an "investigation" into Gurugram's drainage issues and directed the district administration to prepare a comprehensive flood management plan by December 31, an official statement said here on Thursday.

     Gurugram faces recurring water logging issues during heavy rains during the monsoon.

     Sumita Misra, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, and Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, said here on Thursday that the Gurugram deputy commissioner had been instructed to personally monitor the implementation of flood mitigation measures and ensure coordination among civic bodies, development authorities, engineering departments and police.

     The directions follow a recent high-level meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), under the chairmanship of the additional secretary (disaster management), where senior officials discussed measures to address Gurugram's persistent flooding problem, an official statement said.

     The government has directed the administration to identify individual flooding hotspots and investigate the precise reasons for water accumulation, including blocked drains and defective stormwater drainage design.

     Officials must develop a comprehensive mitigation strategy that addresses the root causes of flooding and includes rainwater management rather than focusing solely on clearing waterlogged roads.

     "A City Action Plan for Urban Flood Management shall be developed by December 31, 2026 with clearly defined targets, milestones and time-bound interventions," the Revenue and Disaster Management Department said in its communication.

     The December 31 deadline requires the administration to develop a structured plan that specifies interventions to address identified problems.

     The government has also asked officials to examine whether Hyderabad's flood management model can be adapted to Gurugram.

     The proposed study will cover a centralised control room and the interlinking of lakes and other water bodies to strengthen urban flood management. The district administration will assess the feasibility of replicating the model locally.

     Another major direction concerns funding. The administration has been asked to explore the use of the State Disaster Mitigation Fund for flood prevention projects and submit proposals to the state government for approval under the prescribed guidelines.

     The government has also sought technical coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to identify the causes of urban flooding and recommend practical solutions.

     In September, the Haryana Human Rights Commission had expressed serious concern over the recurring and severe waterlogging in Gurugram, paralysis of traffic, disruption of essential services, inadequate drainage infrastructure and the difficulties being faced by the common public, commuters and particularly, school-going children.

     Recognising the disruption caused by flooding, the state government directed that standard operating procedures (SOPs) be prepared to mitigate flooding and reduce traffic congestion during rainy days.

     The director general of police (DGP) has been asked to direct the officers concerned to prepare these procedures and provide necessary support for their implementation.

     The Gurugram deputy commissioner has been assigned responsibility for coordinating with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Irrigation and Water Resources Department, and other agencies.

     The Gurugram divisional commissioner and the GMDA chief executive officer have also been asked to ensure effective coordination.

     The state government has directed the district administration to undertake geographical information system (GIS)-based mapping of critical infrastructure and emergency response resources. The mapping exercise aims to ensure authorities have immediate access to resource information during emergencies.

     The administration must also promote the SACHET application for faster dissemination of disaster warnings and strengthen its civil defence setup with adequate personnel, equipment and training. Trained volunteers, including Aapda Mitra and Yuva Aapda Mitra, are to be integrated into emergency response arrangements.

     The government's directions address seven priority areas, including root-cause analysis, water body management, disaster funding, technical planning and emergency preparedness.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)