Noida's Fatal Waterlogging: A Decade of Neglect and Delays
A 27-year-old software engineer tragically drowned in a waterlogged trench in Noida's Sector 150 late Friday night. This trench was originally allotted for a private mall project. Over the past decade, it transformed into a dangerous pond. Rainwater and wastewater from nearby housing societies accumulated there unchecked.
Stormwater Plan Remained Only on Paper
The irrigation department drafted a stormwater management plan back in 2015. Despite multiple surveys and site inspections, this plan never moved beyond the paperwork stage. Documents reveal that in 2015, the department proposed building a head regulator to divert runoff into the Hindon River.
In February 2016, the Noida Authority provided Rs 13.5 lakh for a survey and design of this proposed regulator. However, progress stalled repeatedly.
Years of Communication Without Action
A letter from October 9, 2023, highlights extensive communications between the irrigation department and Noida Authority from 2015 to 2023. The letter emphasized the urgent need to channel rainwater from developing sectors into the Hindon.
The irrigation department had already prepared designs for a regulator with mechanical gates at Sector 150. IIT-Delhi vetted these designs. Yet, after a joint site inspection on October 4, 2023, Noida Authority officials raised new concerns.
They noted that stormwater from additional sectors had connected to the existing drain. This could increase discharge. Officials suggested using hydraulic or pneumatic gates instead of mechanical ones.
Fresh Demands and Continued Delays
Following this, the irrigation department requested an additional Rs 30 lakh. This funding was for a new survey, revised designs, and updated hydrological data. Key data points included maximum discharge, water depth, longitudinal slope, and freeboard.
To this day, a revised survey report remains pending. Senior officials from both the Noida Authority and the irrigation department attended the inspection. Their inaction had clear consequences.
Monsoon Misery and Resident Anguish
The 2023 monsoon exposed the severe impact of these delays. Sector 150 and surrounding areas experienced intense waterlogging. Basements in housing societies by ATS, ACE, Godrej, Tata, Eldeco, and Samridhi flooded completely.
Without a functional regulator, rainwater could not discharge into the Hindon. Stagnant water posed a constant risk of backflow whenever the river swelled. Residents accused the Noida Authority of gross negligence.
Many societies resorted to using heavy dewatering pumps. Choked drains caused sewer backflow into homes, creating unsanitary and hazardous living conditions.
Promises After a Tragedy
After the engineer's death, irrigation department executive engineer BK Singh spoke to the press. He announced that work on the regulator would commence within a week. Singh estimated the project cost at Rs 10.5 crore, to be funded by the Noida Authority.
The department has received the selected contractor's financial bid. Remaining formalities, including document submission and security deposit, should conclude within a week.
Singh detailed the project's long journey. It went through proposal preparation, Authority consent, vetting by a state-level committee, and a tendering process. Final approval came from the chief engineer committee before bids were invited.
The department now aims to complete the head regulator before the next monsoon season. This would help minimize future disruption and prevent similar tragedies.
Residents Voice Their Frustration
Local residents believe this tragedy was preventable. Had the regulator been operational, water might not have accumulated on the low-lying commercial plot near the Hindon-Yamuna confluence.
"The regulator could have controlled flows and accommodated excess water within the plot," said Jitendra Meena, a resident of Tata Eureka Park. His words echo the frustration of many who have endured years of administrative delays and monsoon chaos.
