Senior officials say lack of coordination between the staff is a reason for delayed action and that use of WhatsApp can help in changing that
Delhi turns into Venice every monsoon and not in a good way. Even at the slightest hint of rainfall, the city gets waterlogged, resulting in clogged roads and hour-long traffic jams.
However, in a new bid to help remedy the situation, the Public Works Department (PWD) is going to use WhatsApp for 'real-time' monitoring of the situation at 'critical points'. This, say officials, will help them respond to crises better.
According to officials, coordination between the onsite staff and the control room remains weak and is a major reason for delayed action. WhatsApp could help change that.
"This year we have decided to use WhatsApp for monitoring and coordination of the major areas prone to waterlogging during the rains. The staff will be required to post the picture or video of the spot to the control room (which receives complaints) and the action being taken in real time. This will ensure the presence of staff on ground and take care of the situation in time," said, a senior government official.
The decision will be discussed in the next review meeting of the department with L-G Anil Baijal on Monday.
While the government departments have been asked to keep a close watch on 163 vulnerable points prone to waterlogging in the city, a list of top 30 'flashpoints' has already been drawn.
While some of these are low-lying areas, others have either small sized drains or overflowing Delhi Jal Board (DJB) sewers and tanks, said officials.
The major stretches include Mehrauli-Badarpur Road (low-lying area), Ring Road — from IP flyover towards Sarai Kale Khan (due to overflow of DJB trunk sewer), Zakhira Underpass (low-lying area), Rohtak Road (due to insufficient size of drain) and Pul Prahladpur (due to overflowing of DJB manholes).
In a bid to prepare for the monsoon expected by June-end the department will also review the number of pumps (to drain out water) it will require this season.
"At present we have 700 pumps, which have already been sent for repair and maintenance. In many cases of waterlogging, it was found that the site got choked because the pump couldn't start on time or the capacity was not enough," the official said.
Also, for increased transparency this time, the department's superintendent engineers (SE) will make surprise inspections of sites.
"They will check how many pumps are claimed and how many are actually available on the ground, if they are equipped with fuel, and are in a running condition," the official said.
& Analysis
Social media has been touted before by government departments as a bid to solve Delhi's problems. It hasn't helped the problem much
A full plan of action needs to be put in place and tested before the onset of the monsoon. This hasn't happened yet.
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