The overflowing sewage drain opposite Ram Mandir in C-Block of East of Kailash and the apathy of the civic authorities has left the residents dissatisfied and annoyed.
Residents say that their numerous complaints to get the problem addressed by knocking on the doors of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board and the area councillor have gone unanswered.
Kailash Hills resident Abhinav Kaul said: “The problem of this overflowing sewer, which becomes acute during the rains, has been existing for over three years and all our complaints have fallen on deaf ears with everyone passing the buck to escape responsibility. The brimming sewer spills dirty water onto the road making it difficult for residents and temple devotes to walk on the stretch. The stench of the dirty water from the sewer adds to the discomfort of all around, especially office commuters and school and college-goers in the morning.”
“Being at a busy intersection of roads leading to Nehru Place and Sant Nagar, the overflowing sewer also hold up traffic, especially during the rains,” he added.
Kailash Hills Community Association president S. C. Dua said: “There is simply no will power to tackle the problem which relates to a basic routine matter that is prima facie the responsibility of the MCD and the DJB. However, there is no co-ordination between the two bodies resulting in the residents suffering.”
“The main sewer line has long exhausted its capacity and needs to be broadened or replaced with increase in population in the area. But neither is its capacity being increased nor is it being changed. It is not even being cleaned regularly for temporary relief. While the DJB did replace several sewers in the inner colony lanes of Kailash Hills, the main sewer was neglected,” he added.
When contacted, the MCD authorities said that maintenance of Delhi’s sewerage system was the responsibility of the Jal Board.
MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said: “Since we are a huge civic body covering almost the entire Capital people blame the MCD for all their civic woes. But I would like to clarify that maintenance of sewers comes under the jurisdiction of the DJB and not the MCD.”
Meanwhile, the Jal Board blamed the MCD for failing to maintain the two storm-water drains near the main sewer.
A senior Jal Board official said: “This problem of overflowing sewer is mainly seasonal and related to the rains. The two storm-water drains or open nullahs near the sewer are poorly designed, covered with silt and not cleaned, so there is no outfall for excess water when it rains. This leads to the overflowing sewer. These drains need to be de-silted, which is the responsibility of the MCD.”
