New Delhi (Agency): As relentless rainfall swept over Delhi, leaving the city grappling with extensive waterlogging, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the AAP government engaged in a tense blame game. On Tuesday, Saxena alleged that the recurrent problem of waterlogging is due to the inadequate cleaning of city drains, which sparked an immediate rebuttal from the AAP government.
In response to Saxena’s accusation, Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj vehemently condemned the Lieutenant Governor’s assertions. He argued that despite Saxena’s prior claims of desilting the drains and sanitizing the Yamuna River, he now shifts the blame onto the AAP government amid the city’s struggle with the deluge.
Saxena, evaluating the swelling water levels at the Yamuna Bazar area, emphasized the need for preparatory measures to effectively handle such copious rainfall. He pinpointed the annual waterlogging issue as a consequence of years of neglect in cleaning the drains and implementing water harvesting.
Saxena furthered his point to the media, asserting the necessity of regular desilting for the Yamuna and the Najafgarh drain to enhance their water-holding capacity. He identified this oversight as the reason behind Delhi’s current inundation. Adding to this, Saxena cited the city’s booming population—increasing by 50 lakh since 2014—as a factor that necessitated better planning for sewer lines and drainage to avoid waterlogging.
Saxena expressed his concern over the yearly plight faced by the city’s residents and pledged his efforts to focus on addressing the recurring issue.
Bharadwaj, in a string of tweets, launched a counter-attack against the Lieutenant Governor, accusing him of engaging in “dirty politics” at a time when citizens seek respite. Bharadwaj also highlighted his dual role as the chairman of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the body tasked with cleaning the Yamuna. He stated that Saxena has withheld funds from the DJB for the past year and failed to take action against officers who created finance-related issues.
Further, Bharadwaj called out the Lieutenant Governor and the central government for persistently creating hurdles for the Delhi government. He appealed to them to let the government function and to refrain from political gamesmanship. Bharadwaj also implored Saxena to concentrate on law-and-order, arguing that the Lieutenant Governor’s constant interference in the city government’s affairs is counterproductive.
