On Tuesday(16th July),The Delhi High Court has instructed civic bodies like MCD and DJB to conduct a joint inspection of the waterlogging issue at the Bar Council of Delhi office and submit a detailed report within a week. Persistent waterlogging during monsoons at the BCD office has prompted this directive, aiming to address the recurring inconvenience caused by muddy and sewage water accumulation.
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NEW DELHI: In a bid to resolve the persistent waterlogging problem at the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) office, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday(16th July),has directed various civic bodies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), to conduct a joint inspection. The Court has mandated that these bodies submit a comprehensive report within a week after inspecting the BCD office, located in the Siri Fort Institutional area.
Each monsoon, the BCD office premises and its parking area become severely inundated with muddy and sewage water, causing significant inconvenience. This issue was brought to the attention of the Delhi High Court, highlighting the recurring nature of the problem.
During the court proceedings, representatives from the civic authorities, including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), assured the Court that they would “Please address the issue promptly and take necessary corrective measures.”
A single-judge bench led by Justice Sanjeev Narula instructed,
“As proposed by the counsels, engineers not below the rank of superintendent engineers from all respondents shall conduct a joint inspection. They are directed to coordinate and schedule an inspection of the petitioner’s premises and surrounding area within this week, submitting a report to the Court thereafter.”
Justice Narula emphasized the importance of this inspection, assigning the MCD engineer as the nodal officer responsible for the inspection. Furthermore, the Court insisted that the Honorary Secretary of the BCD be present during the inspection to clearly outline the difficulties faced.
The Court noted-
“The respondents need not await further directions from the High Court to carry out the remedial measures.”
This proactive measure by the Delhi High Court is seen as a significant step towards addressing the waterlogging issues that have plagued the BCD office for years. The Court’s directive aims to foster better coordination among the various civic bodies, ensuring that they work together efficiently to tackle the problem.
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The involvement of high-ranking engineers from the concerned bodies is expected to bring about a thorough evaluation and prompt resolution of the issues. The joint inspection and subsequent report are anticipated to provide a detailed account of the problem areas and propose effective solutions to prevent future waterlogging.
The High Court’s decision underscores the urgency of addressing the waterlogging issue, especially given the onset of the monsoon season. By mandating the presence of senior engineers and the Honorary Secretary of the BCD during the inspection, the Court aims to ensure that all aspects of the problem are thoroughly examined and addressed.
This directive from the Delhi High Court serves as a reminder of the importance of timely and effective intervention by civic bodies to mitigate infrastructural issues that affect public institutions. The outcome of the joint inspection and the subsequent actions taken by the civic bodies will be closely monitored to ensure that the BCD office is safeguarded against future instances of waterlogging.
In a recent legal challenge presented in court, Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), highlighted a persistent problem concerning the city’s drainage system.
Gupta stated-
“There’s a significant issue here. When we contact MCD, they claim the drain belongs to DDA. However, when we reach out to DDA, they deny ownership, stating they’ve transferred responsibility. There’s confusion about the jurisdiction of the drain that needs cleaning. Our concern is that this situation might recur.”
This indicates a significant lack of coordination among the municipal bodies, leading to unresolved infrastructural issues.
Gupta emphasized the necessity for the responsible authority to prevent the recurrence of such issues. The BCD has been proactive, repeatedly urging the concerned departments to inspect and rectify the waterlogging issue, ensuring a well-maintained drainage system. Despite these efforts, their pleas have remained unanswered.
The severity of the situation was vividly illustrated when, on the night between June 27 and June 28, the BCD’s office was severely impacted by a deluge. The office was inundated with rainwater mixed with street debris and drainage water, leading to significant damage. The bar council reported that this flooding affected crucial documents, including “crucial data pertaining to the enrolment of lawyers”.
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Further exacerbating the crisis, the BCD’s IT department faced a catastrophic loss as the basement, housing critical computer systems, was overwhelmed by over 10 feet of water or muddy slush. This incident destroyed stored data, affecting the council’s operational capabilities.
The High Court scheduling a follow-up hearing on July 30.
