PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
Just one day of moderate rainfall on Tuesday caused a rise in the level of water in the Rispana and Bindal rivers which reached close to the banks, raising concerns among people living along the Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun. The situation has also drawn attention to the ongoing Rispana rejuvenation exercise, with the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) identifying drains flowing into the river and carrying out drone mapping even as the monsoon has arrived in the State. Residents fear that if similar rainfall continues for another two days, several low-lying settlements could be flooded, with water entering houses and weak structures facing the risk of collapse.
Waterlogging and overflowing river water are recurring problems in low-lying areas along the Rispana and Bindal during the monsoon. Former MLA Rajkumar alleged that the MCD failed to carry out timely cleaning of rivers and drains before the monsoon. He claimed that garbage, silt and debris have clogged several local drains, causing rainwater to overflow. He further said that stretches near bridges and drains were hardly cleaned. The civic body lacks adequate JCB machines and sanitation workers, affecting drain cleaning and door-to-door waste collection. He said that the corporation had delayed cleaning the Rispana and identifying drains instead of completing this task before monsoon.
Councillor Nikhil Kumar said that Tuesday’s rainfall alone brought water close to houses along the Rispana’s banks. He said that despite the recurring problem every year, the MCD has failed to provide a permanent solution. According to him, the administration’s response is largely limited to making announcements through loudspeakers asking people to stay away from the river whenever the water level rises.
Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that the MCD has constituted a dedicated flood and disaster response team. He said that the team reaches areas affected by waterlogging or flood-related emergencies to assist residents. Citizens can also inform the control team directly, following which the officials are dispatched to the spot for relief and rescue operations.
