'Quick Response Team' and 'Control Rooms' constituted under monsoon action plan, says Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi

New Delhi [India], June 18 : The Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Shelly Oberoi highlighted the preparedness of the MCD for the monsoons and said a 'quick response team' has been constituted to solve the issue of water logging in the city.
She further conveyed that control rooms are also established on zonal and ward levels that will operate for 24 hours, all day, and all night to resolve the issues of the public.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shelly Oberoi said, "As monsoons are approaching Delhi, like every year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has made arrangements and is prepared for it."
"MCD has held various meetings and discussions with senior officials of the Delhi government regarding the action plan and preparation for the monsoons. We also held inter-department meetings with the officials of PWD, DDA, and Irrigation Funds regarding the same cause. The MCD officials had a meeting with Delhi's Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj Ji and we have implemented the action plan," said Oberoi.
She further conveyed that the action plan has been divided into two phases - pre-monsoon and post-monsoon and actions are taken accordingly.
The Mayor of MCD mentioned, "For phase 1, which is essentially the pre-monsoon phase, we have cleaned 92 percent of drains that are deeper than 4 feet. For drains that are depths of around 4 feet or less, we have cleaned around 85 percent. For phase 2, the MCD will take actions after the departure of monsoons."
Addressing one of the major issues of water logging in the city, Shelly asserted, "The issue of water logging always prevails in Delhi. Last year's rainfall made the situation worse and created a flood-like situation in the capital city. But, this time, the MCD is fully prepared for it and has established a "quick response team". In 12 zones, nodal officers have also been appointed to monitor the situation regularly."
Adding to the information, she said, "Furthermore, we have identified the vulnerable areas for waterlogging and have made arrangements for it in advance. We have checked all the temporary and permanent pumps installed. We have also created a control room in each zone that will operate 24X7 and resolve the complaints of complainants."
"We have also created a control room on ward level which will include the members of MCD from different departments. They will be responsible for constant monitoring of the situation in the wards."
According to the data provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the onset of monsoons is dated around June 30.
Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department said that there is a possibility of light rain in the National Capital in the next three to four days amidst challenging weather conditions across the country.
IMD scientist Soma Sen told ANI, "Red alert has been issued in North India. North-West Himalayan region of India including Punjab and Haryana will experience cloudy weather from evening and rain is also expected...The heatwave situation is likely to reduce in Punjab and Haryana...From tomorrow, Orange alert will be issued in Delhi..."
"There is a possibility of rain in Delhi which is called pre-monsoon showers due to southwesterly winds in the next three or four days. Heat waves can be reduced. The discomfort which you are feeling indicates that moisture is increasing in your area," Sen added.
Meanwhile, the citizens of Delhi are currently reeling from the severe heatwave, with red alert for it on Tuesday.
The IMD said that heatwave conditions are likely over many parts of the country on June 18.
"Heatwave to severe heat wave conditions are likely over many parts of Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi on 18th June 2024 and heat wave conditions are likely over isolated places over Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand," IMD said in a post on X.
The temperature recorded in the national capital was 34.8 degrees Celsius at 08:30 am this morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather agency had also warned that severe heatwave conditions will continue in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh till June 19.