Bhopal: If nullahs were channelised as per the plan made in 2013, the city could have avoided the havoc rains play every year. The detailed project report (DPR) prepared then for nullah channelization was never taken up by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). Had it been implemented, the city could have got rid of rain-fed swollen nullahs and waterlogged roads, which have become a common site.
On August 13, 2006 incessant rains had then caused severe flooding on roads and streets in the city. Things have not changed much; as again after 12 years, heavy downpour on Tuesday brought city to its knees. Come rains and these overflowing nullahs in city are turned into death zone. On Tuesday city’s nullahs were again in full spate claiming lives of two persons including a minor boy. This was the third incident in a month. Earlier, a child was swept away in overflowing nullha in Panchsheel Nagar.
A bout of rain leads to overflowing of nullahs as the municipal authorities have failed to ensure its cleaning and desilting. The rainwater mixed with filth and garbage overflows from the nullah on the roads and adjoining areas. There are as many as 750 small and big nullahs in the city. Union government had sanctioned Rs 100 crore under the AMRUT scheme for the work on these nullahs.
A DPR (Detailed Project Report) was prepared on the suggestion of corporators in 2013 and it was approved by the Union ministry. However, the proposal was later shelved. Abdul Shafique, former deputy city engineer in BMC said that the city nullahs open up in Betwa or Halali dam or some of them also runs up to Ajnaal dam.
During heavy downpour, slush and garbage from small drains get collected in nullahs causing flooding in adjoining areas, said Shafique. He further informed that the BMC carries out only the superficial work as during cleaning only 25 per cent of the silt is removed. If the nullahs are cleaned properly, the rainwater will pass easily without overflowing on the roads he added.
Former chairman of the BMC Kailash Mishra said that they had sought amount from Central government but the very next year the government changed and things came to standstill. Former mayor Krishna Gaur said that the DPR was prepared and but had it being implemented it would have transformed the entire nullah channelization work. However, my tenure got over the same year and the authorities now should take notice of the issue.
