High-tension tower, hillock: Why Gurgaon's new sectors could be flooded this year too
Gurgaon: It's the same cycle every year. "We dread the rains." That is how Jaswant Rao, RWA president of Astaire Garden, sums up the situation revolving around the long-delayed leg-IV.
Six years after it got the administrative approval, Leg-IV — planned to ease flooding in new sectors — has hit a wall, quite literally.
A 100-metre hillock stands in the way of connecting the drain, while a high-tension power tower in Sector 70 is yet to be relocated. Both obstacles have brought the construction to a crawl, which is already running behind schedule.
The drain, once completed, will stretch 5.2km from Vatika Chowk to NH8 and is expected to offload nearly 50% of the burden on the Badshapur drain — the city's main stormwater channel — while benefiting sectors 68 to 80.
But its progress was slow from the beginning, and now with these two obstructions, residents are concerned as the monsoon is just days away from lashing the city.
A senior GMDA official said, "A hillock near Sector 75 is coming in the drain alignment. We initiated the dismantling process in April this year for which tendering is underway. Similarly, we have written to HVPNL to shift the high-tension tower in Sector 70.
The matter is being followed up." GMDA is aiming to complete the project by the end of this year, he said.
The drain passes through new sectors, including sectors 69, 70, 75 and 75A, which have seen extensive residential and commercial development over the years but remain vulnerable to waterlogging due to inadequate drainage.
Jaswant Rao says, "Now that the monsoon is around the corner, the work will get hampered again.
We dread the rains because we are the worst sufferers — our society (Astaire Garden) is low-rise and not just the roads but even our basement gets flooded during heavy downpours. We have been waiting for proper drainage connectivity for the past eight years."
The Rs 105-crore project got administrative approval in May 2019, but it remained stuck in planning and coordination stages for nearly three years. Tendering finally began in 2022 and physical work started only in April 2023 with the original deadline of Oct 2024.
Earlier, GMDA attributed the initial delays to external constraints such as the monsoon and the annual construction ban imposed from Nov to Jan due to air pollution norms.
Ajay Sharma, a resident of Tulip Ivory in Sector 70, said flooding during pre-monsoon showers this month was a wake-up call.
"Waterlogging was seen not only on SPR but also on sector roads. Tulip Chowk was submerged last week," Sharma said.
"This project has already taken too long — how much more time do they need? It's becoming increasingly problematic," Sharma asked.
With only 50% of work completed more than two years after construction began, residents worry that the city's response is reactive rather than preventive. Many argue that key infrastructure like drainage should have been in place before granting large-scale residential licences in the area.
Last month, a portion of SPR caved in after heavy rainfall, compounded by ongoing excavation work for the drainage project.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Faced with hardships, widows in Palamu seek wings to fly
1 2 Daltonganj: In the heart of Daltonganj, a poignant gathering unfolded, echoing the silent cries and resilient hopes of many who have walked the path of loss. The air was thick with emotion as stories of heartache and strength intertwined, painting a vivid tapestry of the struggles faced by widows in a society that often turns a blind eye. Among them was Shobha Kumari, whose voice trembled with the weight of her plea, a mother yearning for her children, a woman seeking justice in a world that branded her unjustly. On Monday, Daltonganj hosted an event to mark International Widows' Day, attended by govt officials and approximately 70 widows. The theme for this year, "Empower Her, From Loss to Leadership," the event aimed to provide a platform to widows to share their experiences and challenges. The event was organized by Avinash Dev under the banner of the social outfit, Pahal. Dev emphasised the importance of creating a space where widows could voice their stories and seek support. Shobha Kumari shared her harrowing experience of being ostracized by her family, highlighting the societal stigma that often accompanies widowhood. She appealed to the authorities for assistance in reuniting with her children, who are currently in the custody of her mother-in-law. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Alarma con cámara a precio especial en Entre Ríos (ver oferta) Verisure Alarma Empieza ahora Undo In response to her plea, officials assured that her case would be referred to the district legal services authority for further assistance. The event also highlighted success stories, such as that of Puja Kumari, who remarried and is now living a fulfilling life. District social welfare officer Neeta Chouhan said that the state govt offers a fiscal incentive of Rs 2 lakh to encourage the remarriage of widows. Five such cases were recorded across the district last year. Dev called on the state govt to increase the financial incentive for remarriage from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, aiming to provide greater support and opportunities for widows seeking to rebuild their lives.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
NIPUN Bharat mission introduces reward system to improve foundational learning
1 2 3 Prayagraj: In a significant push to improve foundational literacy and numeracy among young learners, the NIPUN Bharat Mission is being implemented with renewed vigour in the basic schools of Prayagraj. As part of this initiative, the education department has introduced a reward-based system to motivate teachers and schools to achieve defined learning outcomes. Teachers who successfully meet the NIPUN goals—set for students from Bal Vatika (pre-primary) to Class 2—within the given timeline will be honoured with the title of 'NIPUN Champion Head Master of the District'. The state has set a target to select 400 such exemplary teachers from across Uttar Pradesh. These selected teachers will not only receive a cash reward of Rs 25,000 but will also be offered educational tours to different states, helping them gain broader exposure and enhance their teaching skills. In addition, they will be provided with specialised training modules to further develop their professional competencies. According to Debvart Singh, the in-charge Basic Shiksha Adhikari, once students enrolled in a school attain the expected competencies as per the NIPUN goals, the headmaster, in consultation with other teachers, will register the school for evaluation on the Prerna Portal. This step will be followed by detailed instructions issued by the state project director of 'Samagra Shiksha'. The evaluation process will be carried out under guidance of DIET (District Institute of Education and Training) principals, assisted by Academic Resource Persons (ARPs) and DIET mentors from other development blocks. Critical data, such as student enrolment from Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) and attendance records from Prerna Portal's digital registers, will be used in the assessment process. Once the DIET principal confirms the school's status as 'NIPUN', a 100% student evaluation will be conducted by DElEd trainees under the supervision of the State Project Office and SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training). The assessment will utilise transparent IT-enabled systems to ensure accuracy and fairness. This rigorous and structured approach is expected to not only uplift educational standards but also inspire a culture of performance, recognition, and continuous improvement in primary education across Prayagraj and beyond.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
High-tension tower, hillock: Why Gurgaon's new sectors could be flooded this year too
Gurgaon: It's the same cycle every year. "We dread the rains." That is how Jaswant Rao, RWA president of Astaire Garden, sums up the situation revolving around the long-delayed leg-IV. Six years after it got the administrative approval, Leg-IV — planned to ease flooding in new sectors — has hit a wall, quite literally. A 100-metre hillock stands in the way of connecting the drain, while a high-tension power tower in Sector 70 is yet to be relocated. Both obstacles have brought the construction to a crawl, which is already running behind schedule. The drain, once completed, will stretch 5.2km from Vatika Chowk to NH8 and is expected to offload nearly 50% of the burden on the Badshapur drain — the city's main stormwater channel — while benefiting sectors 68 to 80. But its progress was slow from the beginning, and now with these two obstructions, residents are concerned as the monsoon is just days away from lashing the city. A senior GMDA official said, "A hillock near Sector 75 is coming in the drain alignment. We initiated the dismantling process in April this year for which tendering is underway. Similarly, we have written to HVPNL to shift the high-tension tower in Sector 70. The matter is being followed up." GMDA is aiming to complete the project by the end of this year, he said. The drain passes through new sectors, including sectors 69, 70, 75 and 75A, which have seen extensive residential and commercial development over the years but remain vulnerable to waterlogging due to inadequate drainage. Jaswant Rao says, "Now that the monsoon is around the corner, the work will get hampered again. We dread the rains because we are the worst sufferers — our society (Astaire Garden) is low-rise and not just the roads but even our basement gets flooded during heavy downpours. We have been waiting for proper drainage connectivity for the past eight years." The Rs 105-crore project got administrative approval in May 2019, but it remained stuck in planning and coordination stages for nearly three years. Tendering finally began in 2022 and physical work started only in April 2023 with the original deadline of Oct 2024. Earlier, GMDA attributed the initial delays to external constraints such as the monsoon and the annual construction ban imposed from Nov to Jan due to air pollution norms. Ajay Sharma, a resident of Tulip Ivory in Sector 70, said flooding during pre-monsoon showers this month was a wake-up call. "Waterlogging was seen not only on SPR but also on sector roads. Tulip Chowk was submerged last week," Sharma said. "This project has already taken too long — how much more time do they need? It's becoming increasingly problematic," Sharma asked. With only 50% of work completed more than two years after construction began, residents worry that the city's response is reactive rather than preventive. Many argue that key infrastructure like drainage should have been in place before granting large-scale residential licences in the area. Last month, a portion of SPR caved in after heavy rainfall, compounded by ongoing excavation work for the drainage project.
