Anil Baijal directs landscaping along roads, drain desilting

New Delhi: Lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Friday held a meeting to review the progress of desilting of drains in the national capital for the prevention of waterlogging. The L-G directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to prepare a roadmap for the cleaning of the drains based on its past learning for the next year. 

The CEO of Delhi Jal Board informed the L-G that PWD, DJB and local bodies are exploring the possibility of creating rainwater harvesting systems along the roadsides where water accumulates in large quantity, as a long-term solution for this problem. Regarding mechanical cleaning of drains, it was directed that new mechanical machines should be procured at the earliest. 

The L-G also directed the PWD to start work on landscaping and beautification of all major roads in the city in a time-bound manner. Mr Baijal directed the public works department (PWD) to hire consultants, who will submit their report within one month for executing the work.

The directions were issued at a meeting chaired by the L-G. The meeting was attended by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, chief secretary M.M. Kutty and other senior officers.

During the meeting, the engineer-in-chief (PWD) informed that the work will commence from February next year after obtaining various approvals and clearances.

“The LG directed that landscaping central verging of all major roads including minor roads (60-80 feet) of Delhi which are about 1,280 km length shall be taken up by PWD simultaneously in a time-bound manner,” the LG office said in a statement. It was stressed that the quality of greening and landscaping of the roads should be uniform.