The Hindu : New Delhi News : Concrete drain for Delhi Zoo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Concrete drain for Delhi Zoo

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT 8. Faced with the constant problem of flooding and seepage of storm water into its premises every year endangering the existence of in-house animals, the Delhi Government has issued directions for construction of a concrete drain system for drainage of storm water from the National Zoological Park here - better known as Delhi Zoo. A similar system would also be put in place for the Millennium Park and Ring Road along Mathura Road in Delhi.

Instructions for undertaking such a project were issued by Delhi's Finance and PWD Minister, A.K. Walia, during an inspection of Delhi Zoo today. The Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will construct the concrete drain for which the Delhi Government would release funds. Accompanied by senior officials of DDA and MCD, Dr. Walia also visited the Millennium Park. During inspection of the zoo, it was found that this problem of flooding had been continuing for years together and nothing had been done to put things right. Dr. Walia said it was found that that storm water collected in the zoo premises creating a lot of problems. It was also found that the water did not come alone from the adjoining Sunder Nagar colony but also from other catchment areas around the zoo.

Despite the fact that zoo authorities always pumped out water, the situation never improved and the same quantity of water collected due to non-availability of proper outfall. The PWD Minister said that in this background, it has been decided that DDA would construct a concrete drain from the zoo to the culvert at Ring Road and from this point to the river Yamuna by the MCD. He directed the DDA officers to submit the design of this drain for the approval of the Corporation. The estimates of the remaining part of the drain have already been prepared by the Corporation and would cost the exchequer about Rs. 2 crore. In another decision, it was decided that the Delhi Jal Board would lay a 2 km long sewer line from Mathura Road to Trunk Sewer Line at Ring Road through the National Zoological Park. This would be apart from constructing one km long drain from Sunder Nagar to Zoo Pumping Station. Dr. Walia said he would re-visit these sites after a month's time to see the progress of the works carried out by the concerned agencies.

Meanwhile, despite clear orders by Dr. Walia that road cutting activity should be banned till end of this month, contractors and civic agencies continue to cut roads at several places. Giving a thumbs down to the order of the PWD Minister, a number of leading communication companies have cut roads in various parts of the city to lay optic fibre cable. ON the other hand, stung by the public criticism and public reprimand by the PWD Minister, both the MCD and Public Works Department have started the road repair programme in various parts of the Capital. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which also had come under criticism for poor road repair work, has also started extensive repair of the roads at its various project sites providing relief to the motorists and commuting public.

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