PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Despite the district administration and Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) focusing on cleaning rivers and drains ahead of the monsoon, several drains across the city remain clogged with silt, garbage and dry leaves, raising concerns over the preparedness to prevent overflow and waterlogging.
MCD officials stated that mechanical excavators and nala gangs have been deployed at various locations to ensure efficient drainage and prevent dirty drain water from overflowing onto the roads during rainfall. However, the situation on the ground appears different. Drains along the road from Prince Chowk to Subhash Road are filled with mud and dry branches.
Similarly, drains on the road from the SBI Main Branch towards the Tibetan Market are blocked by garbage. Residents say that if the garbage is not cleared from roads regularly, questions arise about how effectively drains are being cleaned. Blocked drains often overflow during rain, causing dirty water to spill onto roads and enter nearby houses, creating difficulties for commuters, residents and pedestrians.
The problem is exacerbated by potholes on roads across Dehradun. Even after moderate rain, accumulated water conceals these potholes, making them difficult to detect and increasing the risk of accidents.
Shopkeeper near Prince Chowk, Pankaj Yadav said that the drain at the locations has not been cleaned recently. “The drain has been like this for months. Earlier there was less mud, but now it has almost reached the top. It also gives off a foul smell,” he said. He added that even if the drain is cleaned once, it gets clogged again within a few days, making repeated complaints seem pointless.
Responding to the issue, Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that drain-cleaning work is underway across the city. He said that teams have already cleaned drains at many locations, while work is continuing in the remaining areas and all drains will be cleaned gradually.
