The residents of Bawana in Delhi were shocked to wake up surrounded by water. Essentials, along with food and water, sank in the unexpected flood. This calamity is bizarrely out of season, as such situations usually follow heavy rainfall.
Administrative negligence has left the streets, alleyways, and homes of JJ Colony in Bawana submerged. Residents are helplessly watching their homes drown, an affliction that’s struck without warning.
An Overnight Canal Flood
One distressed inhabitant, Neelam Devi, shares, 'Water gushed in suddenly at night. Everyone screamed to run. Our savings were swept away. We have nothing left and are struggling to survive.'
Source: aajtak
Delhi Resigned to Seasonal Floods
The broken segment of Munak Canal caused the flood. Before authorities could intervene, Bawana was inundated. With each monsoon, Delhi drowns, accepting this fate as inevitable. Yet, the breakage of Munak Canal, vital for quenching Delhi's thirst with water from Haryana, signifies a grave concern.
The Unanswered Question of a Crucial Breakage
How this critical canal fractured is a matter of great concern. The waters meant to satiate Delhi's thirst from Haryana instead became disaster. With sections of the community knee-deep in water, people were caught off guard as their food supplies soaked and floors turned slippery.
Delhi’s Water Minister, Atishi, visited the site and assured that repair work would be hastened. The timing of the breach, overseen by the Haryana Irrigation Department, is being questioned. Repair efforts continue as water flow is being redirected to mitigate damage.
A Persisting Struggle with Water Theft
Munak Canal, Delhi's lifeline, has been battling water theft issues for years. The recent damage has laid bare a fresh oversight. It supplies water to critical treatment plants. The government confirmed this damage would impact production, delaying normal water supply. The pressing question remains – could this have been averted, or was there foul play?
Locals claim to have warned about weakened canal structures due to illegal watertapping by farmers, yet no action was taken. Allegations link this to corruption. Delhi’s government is now set to investigate if sabotage was involved.
Source: aajtak
Could Prompt Action Have Prevented the Disaster?
Residents believe preventive measures were possible. They reported a hole in the canal to authorities in June, to no avail. The political blame game between BJP and AAP intensifies, but the crux is the people's suffering in such power struggles.
This canal, if running low, leads to water scarcity, and if it breaks, it brings floods. The political focus on blame rather than solutions raises concerns. Who will step up to alleviate the hardships of Delhi's citizens?
Source: aajtak
The dire situation faced by Delhi's populace demands more than a political tug-of-war. It's time to unite and forge a path out of this recurrent disaster.
