Apathy Of Multiple Agencies Lacking Effective Coordination Worsens Flooding In Capital: Delhi High Court Suggests Centralized Management

The Delhi High Court, while pitching for a centralized management, has highlighted apathy stemming from the involvement of multiple agencies functioning without effective coordination as the reason for the worsening flooding issue in the Capital.

The Court was considering an Application seeking impleadment of the Public Works Department, GNCTD as Respondents in a Writ Petition relating to waterlogging in and around the Tamoor Nagar drain, which is adjacent to Maharani Bagh colony.

The Division Bench of Justice Pratibha M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora observed, "The present application actually highlights the apathy that exists across Delhi in respect of the effective functioning of essential civic services and utilities, such as drainage systems. With the experience of dealing with these matters concerning waterlogging in Delhi, this Court is of the opinion that the apathy stems from the involvement of multiple agencies which are functioning without effective coordination. In these matters, which relate to waterlogging, the Court has had to call all agencies to the Court in order to enable them to arrive at some consensus and for the directions to be effective."

The Applicant was represented by Senior Advocate A.N. Haksar, while the Respondent was represented by Advocate Akash Vajpai.

A new and recent complication, which has arisen due to the PWD’s action was brought to the Court's notice. Senior Counsel for the Applicant submitted that certain bell mouths/holes have been made in the walls of the boundary walls that lie across the ring road and since ring road lies on a raised plain, during rains, rainwater flows from the said road through the bell mouths/holes into the low-lying Maharani Bagh colony, thereby resulting in severe flooding within the colony.

When the Court was presented with the fact that the Ring Road falls under the jurisdiction of the PWD, whereas the internal 'A' Road within the colony is under the control of the MCD, it reflected on the ineffectiveness of the multiple civic agencies whose uncoordinated functioning fails to tackle the seasonal flood problem in the capital.

"The said agencies include the MCD, PWD, DJB, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, DDA, etc. Between these agencies, there is enormous confusion that is caused due to improper delineation of responsibilities leading to them passing the buck’ on most occasions. One glaring example, which has been highlighted in the course of these proceedings, is that stormwater drains are under the management of MCD, and the sewer lines are under the management of DJB. Neither of these pipes is being properly managed by the respective agency, which seems to be shifting the blame to the other agency. This has led to the non-maintenance of either of the lines, leading to excessive flooding in Delhi. However, it is equally important to highlight that the blame does not lie solely with the Government. In most colonies, the stormwater drains are also blocked by the residents themselves, who construct cement pathways on top of the drains, perhaps for parking purposes, which leads to said drains being perpetually clogged", the Court observed.

It thus observed that the time has come for the Delhi Government to take a comprehensive decision as to the manner in which civic services in Delhi need to be managed and administered for better efficiency.

The Court suggested that the government take a call on some centralisation of administration and management of the flooding in Delhi to rid people of the inconveniences arising due to seasonal flooding.

The Petition was accordingly listed for August 19, 2025.

Cause Title: Maharani Bagh Co-operative House Building And Welfare Society Ltd. & Anr. vs. Union of India & Ors.

Appearances:

Petitioner- Senior Advocate A.N. Haksar, Advocate Udayam Jain, Advocate Ranjan Mishra

Respondent- Advocate Akash Vajpai, Advocate Dhruv Rohatgi, Advocate Chandrika Sachdev, Advocate Dhruv Kumar, Advocate Akanksha Singh Rohatgi, Advocate, Standing Counsel Deeksha L Kakkar, Standing Counsel Prabhsahay Kaur, Advocate Rashneet Singh, Advocate Sana Parveen, Advocate Aditya Verma, Advocate Kavya Shukla, Advocate Gautam Dhamija, Senior Advocate Ajjay Aroraa, Advocate Tushar Sannu, CGSC Ripudaman Bhardwa, Advocate Kushagra Kumar, Advocate Amit Kumar Rana

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