Delhi minister Satyendar Jain orders desilting of all PWD drains

New Delhi: Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday ordered desilting of all PWD drains by June 7 to prevent water-logging on roads during the monsoon season.

Jain`s direction came after he conducted a surprise inspection of roads and drains at Mandoli Jail Road and Mandoli village.

He told the media that 1,000 pumps would be installed at different locations across the national capital for pumping out water from the roads if there is water-logging.

"The main reason for water logging during the monsoon is that the drains are not desilted ahead of the rains. I will personally keep a watch," the minister said.

According to Jain, a coordination committee has been set up to ensure that all the organisations, including the PWD and municipal corporations, work together to clean the drains and there is no blame game over the issue.

Later, he visited the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and took stock of the situation there.

Jain, who also holds the health portfolio, said the Delhi government was fully prepared to tackle the menace of vector-borne diseases.

He said that last year, around 300 additional beds were added to the city hospitals specifically for people suffering from dengue and chikungunya and, if needed, the number would be further increased this year.

"I have also directed all the hospitals, including private ones, to add 10 to 20 per cent additional beds, if required."

Jain said the state government was cooperating with all the municipal corporations to prevent breeding of mosquitoes in the city.