Election season comes before the monsoon, and the Rs 35.9-crore Sirsa rainwater drainage project is stuck

The Lok Sabha elections have forced the Municipal Council of Sirsa to postpone a Rs 35.92 crore rainwater drainage project that was planned to be ready for the monsoon season. The application of the model code of conduct (MCC) has caused the project to pause; it is expected to resume in June. It may possibly continue into July.

But because July and August are the monsoon season’s worst months, locals could have to deal with flooding once again this year.

The MC surveyed the ancient city in October 2022, and after that, a detailed project report (DPR) was created. The agency had asked for a budget for the completion of the work based on the report. The administrative permission was also granted by headquarters when they received the budget.

An engineering team from the headquarters had examined the city’s interior, according to MC authorities, and they had also prepared the DPR. The crew had seen every location where water may collect after a rainstorm while doing the study. Shiv Chowk, Janata Bhawan, Anaj Mandi, Rori Bazaar, and Hisaria Bazaar are a few examples of these localities. Water buildup is also a problem on the Begu Road, Rania Road, Kirtinagar, and Civil Hospital Road.

In order to successfully address the problems associated with rainwater collection, municipal authorities from the Health Department have said that the installation of drainage lines is needed. When it rains a lot, there is no way for the rainwater to be drained, which causes obstructions. The mud on the roadways, which is transported by the precipitation and accumulates in the sewage pipes, has been identified as the main cause of the obstructions.

The project has administrative permission, according to MC Executive Officer Attar Singh, and has been sent to the Chief Engineer in Gurugram for technical approval. It would only pick up steam after the Lok Sabha elections.