Rains cease, but not Bopal’s battle with waterlogging

Despite the two-day respite from the rain, relief eludes the harried residents of Bopal. Around 300 families have been under virtual house arrest for the past three days because of the water-logging.

Around 60 residential societies in Bopal were inundated in the two-day torrential rains that lashed the city. Many residents also complained of drainage water seeping into their houses.

While the water has receded in many parts of the area, there are nearly half a dozen societies like Mira Madhav, Narayan Park-2, Narayan Park-3, Poojan Apartments, Poojan Society, Baleshwar (back part) that are still facing problems with the internal roads two and a half feet water. Many of the houses were also flooded with rain water.

The residents have taken up the issue with the panchayat and Auda authorities. However, no solution has been provided to their problems. "We spoke to the sarpanch, Anjanaben Patel, who promised to visit the society personally to inspect the situation. However, in the morning, she sent her husband to the place," said Shukla. She also said that Auda chairman Dharmendra Shah promised to send officials to look into the matter but later on refused to take calls.

"During the downpour, the entire area from the Bopal Main Road to Bopal Post Office and Delhi Public School was totally flooded and the residents had immense trouble commuting", said Mohan Nambiar, a resident of Trimurti Society in Bopal. 

To add to their woes, the drainage water seems to have leaked into the drinking water which was stored in the underground water tanks in these societies. So the residents have to buy bottled water for their personal consumption. "We did not cook food as rain water entered our houses," said Hetal Shukla, homemaker in Mira Madhav Society.

The residents blamed Auda officials for faulty planning of drainage system. "I wrote at least five letters to Auda officials, requesting them to maintain the level while laying the drainage line but no one paid any heed" said Vishnu Patel, resident of Poojan Apartment. The residential societies are on a low level while the drainage lines are on a higher level.

When contacted, sarpanch Anjana Patel blamed the construction work in Bopal and Ghuma for the wretched situation. She said: "The construction activities in these areas have blocked the natural flow of rain water and this has resulted in water-logging. We tried to pump out water from these areas but the lines are full, so there is no place to drain off pumped out water," she said. Moreover, the residents of Ghuma are opposing the opening up of natural waterways leading to Nal Sarovar.