LUCKNOW: Waterlogging at the newly built Noida International Airport following heavy rain has triggered a political row, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav targeting the BJP government while airport authorities said the temporary accumulation of water was cleared within 30 minutes.Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed water accumulated on the stretch connecting the terminal with the parking area at the airport in Jewar. Airport personnel were seen working to drain the water.Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, shared one of the videos on X on Wednesday and said, “Will boats now operate at the airport? Wherever there is a BJP government, there is mega-corruption!”The airport authorities, however, said the waterlogging was temporary and occurred after a spell of extremely heavy rain on Tuesday. They said it did not affect flight operations or passenger movement.According to a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday night, water accumulated briefly on the road connecting the terminal and parking area following intense rainfall.“The airport teams immediately swung into action and ensured drainage within 30 minutes, following which movement on the route became completely normal,” the statement said.The authorities said flight operations and passenger movement continued smoothly and teams were monitoring weather conditions.Amid the political row, Jewar BJP MLA Dhirendra Singh inspected the waterlogged area near the airport on Wednesday and directed officials to review the drainage arrangements, address any shortcomings and work towards a permanent solution.“Those who cannot see the unprecedented development of Jewar can see only potholes and waterlogging,” Singh said, accusing the opposition of trying to divert public attention from the development taking place in the state.He said the opposition was focusing on potholes and waterlogging after the rain while overlooking the international airport, roads, industrial investment and employment opportunities being created in the area.The greenfield airport, inaugurated on March 28 this year, has been developed under a public-private partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government and has been projected as an airport built to international standards.Singh said Jewar, once “away from the mainstream of development”, had emerged as a major centre of Uttar Pradesh’s industrial and economic growth under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.“Those whose governments kept the airport confined to discussions and files for years are today doing politics over rainwater around it,” he said.Singh said waterlogging or any technical deficiency would not be ignored and officials had been directed to review the drainage system and undertake necessary improvements.“The opposition may keep looking for potholes in pictures, we will continue writing a new chapter of development in Jewar,” he said.The airport authority said the temporary waterlogging was caused by a sudden spell of exceptionally heavy rain and teams were prepared to ensure uninterrupted movement between the terminal and parking area.“The priority is to ensure passenger convenience and uninterrupted movement amid weather-related conditions,” it said.(With PTI inputs)
