Delhi LG Pushes for Regular Infrastructure Inspections Amid Monsoon Concerns

Delhi LG VK Saxena seeks to establish regular inspections to prevent monsoon-triggered infrastructure collapses. Senior officials are to conduct scheduled assessments, with findings reported to the Chief Secretary. This move comes after the flooding of a coaching institute basement in Rajendra Nagar due to heavy rainfall.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Monday voiced his concern over the collapse of civic infrastructure during the monsoon season, advocating for an institutionalized mechanism to ensure scheduled inspections by senior officers.

Principal Secretary to the LG instructed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar that head officers, secretaries, and additional chief secretaries are to create a field inspection schedule. Inspection notes by department secretaries are to be submitted to the Chief Secretary, with copies sent to the LG Secretariat and the Minister In-charge.

'Inspections should occur fortnightly by the secretaries, weekly by heads of departments, and fortnightly by principal secretaries,' the directive stated. District Magistrates are also urged to engage with Resident Welfare Associations monthly to address and resolve local issues.

The urgency of this measure is underscored by a recent incident where the basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar flooded after heavy monsoon rains. The Delhi High Court has called for officials to inspect affected areas and submit a detailed affidavit by Thursday, emphasizing accountability for the systemic issues leading to such incidents. The court criticized the lack of infrastructure upgrades and stressed the need for a statutory process to address the failures. It hinted at imposing accountability measures to resolve infrastructural negligence.

During a Public Interest Litigation hearing regarding the Rajendra Nagar incident, the court rebuked the Delhi Government, MCD, and other civic authorities for not upgrading century-old infrastructure despite the liberalization of bylaws, indicating a pressing need for reforms.

(With inputs from agencies.)