Chronic waterlogging IV: With storm drains clogged, waterlogging haunting Dholewal Chowk for past 15 yrs

Owing to persistent blockage in the sewer line connected to the storm drains of Dholewal Chowk, waterlogging troubles commuters every year during monsoon.

Locals say during initial years of installation the drain system worked properly, but the situation started to become worse.

Now even a 30-minute rain floods the road and the rainwater enters the shops and houses in the area.

“Earlier the rain water through the storm-drainage system was released into an open drain passing near gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib and there was no waterlogging problem in the area. Later, the storm drains were connected to a smaller sewerline, which usually remains blocked,” said Swarandeep Singh Chahal, area councillor. “There is a need to release the rainwater into an open drain to resolve the problem.”

As the civic body has failed to address the 15-year-old problem, some shopkeepers have constructed a 1.5-ft wall in front of the shops to prevent rainwater from entering their establishments.

In the first week of July, commuters and shopkeepers were a harried a lot due to waterlogged roads.

The situation remains similar in the internal streets of the area and the water enters the houses. Adding to the problem is rainwater coming down from Dholewal flyover to the Old GT Road. Only 10-11% city areas have storm drain system and the MC has not taken any initiative for installing more in remaining areas. MC executive engineer Nachhatar Singh said the reason behind recent waterlogging was choked road gullies that have been cleaned now.