Concrete + construction work+ clogged drains = waterlogging

Dr S S Grewal,president of the Society for Promotion and Conservation of Environment,said,“The run-off potential in the city is high. Too much concrete has been used all over. Due to high intensity rains,the roads become the drainage channels as at times the drains get blocked by polythene. This causes temporary flooding.”

Suggesting measures to tackle the problem,Dr Grewal said that recharge wells could be made at the roundabout. This would ensure that a large amount of water does not accumulate at the roundabouts as is happening now. He added that the city had no space for surface storage of water.

The construction of medians has proven to be an obstruction to the natural flow of water. While medians are required for smooth movement of traffic,there is a need for having some outlet for water at regular intervals in these medians. At present it is seen that one side of the road is filled with water while the other is clear. Outlets for water in the medians would facilitate the flow of water.

Over the years,widespread construction has come up in the city. There is very little land left that is bereft of construction. The natural slope of the city is from north to south. This has been obstructed due to construction of buildings. Paver blocks at every possible vacant space compound the problem. The Municipal Corporation and UT Administration have installed paver blocks on the pavements,in markets and other empty spaces.

Panjab University (PU) Head of the Department of Botany Prof R K Kohli said that there is a need for increasing the area under grassing. “Excessive use of concrete is being done in the city. Paver blocks through which water percolates to the ground should be used. Direction of flow of water should be given consideration while constructing buildings. The architects do not give due consideration to the aspect when designs are made. While rainwater harvesting has been made compulsory it is not being done,” he said.

While the MC claims to have cleaned up the 30,000 road gullies in the city,these proved inadequate to handle the flow of water. “The cleaning of road gullies starts before the onset of monsoons. The storm water drainage system is capable of handling rain up to 15 mm an hour. If the rain is heavy,it takes a little time for water to drain off. The level of water in the choe rises due to which the drains get clogged. Once the level of water recedes,it clears off from the city roads as well,” said a civic official.