Monsoon nears, drainage concerns persist

Jaipur: A brief spell of rain Saturday has raised concerns over Jaipur’s preparedness to deal with waterlogging. While the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) claims that more than 50% of the city’s 900 drains have already been cleaned and work is underway on another 30%, the ground situation tells a different story.Several parts of the city witnessed waterlogging after Saturday rain, exposing gaps in the ongoing drain cleaning exercise. In many locations where drains have been cleaned, the silt and debris removed from them are still lying along roadsides. Residents fear that if the waste is not cleared before monsoon, it could be washed back into the drains and obstruct the flow of rainwater.JMC has set June 15 as the deadline to complete the cleaning drive. However, with the monsoon approaching and work continuing at a slow pace in several areas, concerns are growing over whether the target can be achieved on time.The situation is particularly worrying in the Walled City, where major drains such as Kagdiwara, Brahmpuri, Nagtalai Nala, Bas Badanpura and Mandi Khatikan carry heavy water flow during the monsoon. Overflowing drains in these areas have repeatedly led to flooded streets and waterlogged markets, at times disrupting traffic movement.The concern is not without reason. Last year too, JMC claimed that the city’s drainage network was cleaned by May 31. However, once the monsoon arrived, several parts of Jaipur witnessed flood-like conditions after heavy rainfall. With the rainy season now around the corner, residents are once again questioning whether the city’s drainage infrastructure is truly ready. Repeated instances of waterlogging after even light showers have only added to those doubts.Attempts were made to contact JMC commissioner Om Kasera regarding the progress of the drain cleaning work and the city’s monsoon preparedness, but he was unavailable for comment.