Ghaziabad: Ahead of monsoon, Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has identified 55 waterlogging hotspots in the city, including Lal Kuan, Vijay Nagar, UP Gate along NH9 and several underpasses. Gaushala underpass remains among the most vulnerable, having witnessed drowning incidents in the past. To tackle urban flooding, the civic body has planned to install permanent pumps at six major hotspots.According to municipal health officer Mithilesh Kumar, underpasses being targeted include Hindon Metro, Arthala and Vijay Nagar underpass. Additionally, Bhowpura Chowk, Sahibabad, Rajendra Nagar, Patel Nagar, Makanpur and near Swarn Jyanti Park in Indirapuram have also been identified as hotspots where work will be undertaken.“To deal with the situation, the corporation has readied a plan to install pumps to dewater at least six urban flooding hotspots permanently during monsoon. Over 70 suction tankers, jetting machines will also be installed in other parts of the city,” Kumar added.Last year, the state govt’s urban flooding and stormwater management policy sanctioned a budget of Rs 750 crore to improve the drainage systems in five municipalities, including Ghaziabad. Other districts covered under the plan are Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut and Shahjahanpur.GMC chief engineer NK Choudhary said that the corporation is in the process of making a master plan on urban flood control and stormwater management. Affected areas will be equipped with underground drains and a pumping system to remove excess water from the areas. The stormwater drains will also be cleaned as part of the first-time master plan.The municipal corporation has also begun desiltation of major drains in the city. There are 109 major drains, 335 midsize drains and 635 small drains, many of which pass through heavily inhabited colonies.Drains in the city, which are often littered with waste leading to blockage, are a major reason for flooding during monsoon. Areas like Makanpur in Indirapuram are worst hit during monsoon due to clogged drains.“We have been issuing notices to violators who in any way restrict the flow of water in drains and, under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, which has been adopted by GMC this year, will levy environmental compensation, based on the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle. There is even a provision of lodging an FIR against the violators, and this time around we intend to make use of this provision,” Kumar said.
