Blame Game Over Delhi's Waterlogging Crisis: BJP vs AAP

The BJP accuses the AAP government in Delhi of halting funds needed for sewer maintenance, leading to severe waterlogging during the monsoon. Conversely, AAP blames the BJP and administrative delays imposed by the lieutenant governor's office for the crisis. Both parties demand accountability from each other.

The BJP on Friday accused the AAP government in Delhi of stalling the release of funds for maintaining sewer lines, blaming it for widespread waterlogging in the city this monsoon.

In response, AAP alleged that the BJP, through the lieutenant governor and bureaucracy, had transformed Delhi into a 'living hell.'

No immediate reaction was available from the Lieutenant Governor's Office regarding AAP's claims.

The BJP's Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva pointed out that Satyendar Jain on June 5, 2020, and Saurabh Bharadwaj on July 21, 2023, issued orders as the-then water ministers, mandating that no official could issue work orders worth even Rs 100 without ministerial approval.

'This led to a complete breakdown in maintenance services by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) over the last year, resulting in the city's flooding,' Sachdeva asserted.

Water Minister Atishi, who described Delhi as a 'living hell' due to an 'artificial financial crisis' in the DJB, reportedly cancelled these orders after officers explained the situation to her, Sachdeva further claimed.

In its statement, AAP maintained that administrative orders change over time. Sachdeva demanded that current health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj take responsibility for the waterlogging issues and resign immediately.

'The entire city is struggling with waterlogging. Kirari, Sangam Vihar, and Burari face persistent waterlogging. Even upscale areas such as Rohini, Rajendra Nagar, Patel Nagar, and Kamla Nagar are severely affected. The sewer barrel collapsed near the Old Delhi railway station, yet water board officials cannot issue repair orders,' he said.

Sachdeva criticized Atishi for blaming officials instead of taking action, accusing her of blaming everyone from the lieutenant governor to the DJB's executive engineers of non-cooperation at BJP leaders' behest.

AAP countered, claiming the sewerage issue arises from an 'artificially-created financial crisis' attributed to the Lieutenant Governor's Office and 'BJP-controlled officers.'

The Delhi government allocated Rs 7,195 crore for the DJB in this fiscal year's budget, but the funds remain stuck due to constant file shuttling between urban development and finance departments, AAP claimed.

(With inputs from agencies.)