- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sun, 04 May 2025 07:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma launched a 21-day campaign on Saturday which will be focused on cleaning and improving Delhi’s roads, drains, and public spaces. The campaign aims to tackle “long-standing issues” and enhance the department's "deteriorating image.”
The campaign will involve cleaning roads, desilting drains, and clearing debris and waterlogging beneath flyovers and other public areas. Verma also said that the drive would hold PWD staff at all levels more accountable. “In 21 days, debris, filth and waterlogging must be gone from Delhi,” he told officials during an inspection at Golf Links.
He further stated that the citywide desilting of drains would be finished by May 31, and all preventive monsoon preparations in the Golf Links area, as well as throughout the city, would be completed by May 30.
“We came to Golf Links today because this area was heavily waterlogged last monsoon. This time, we are fully prepared. NDMC has issued all necessary work orders, and the work is progressing swiftly,” he added, as per the HT report.
Accompanied by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj, the minister inspected the sewer lines, stormwater drains, and sump well construction under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). He noted that three new sump wells were being built to enhance rainwater management, and pumps had already been set up to channel water into the main drains. Verma also mentioned that a super sucker machine had been operating daily for the past 10 days to intensively desilt the system.
In his address to PWD officials, Verma delivered a strong criticism of the department's current operations and its public image. “PWD’s image has deteriorated, and the public has lost trust in the PWD. When roads are dug, they remain that way for months. Drain cleaning remains incomplete. People think of the PWD as a department where work gets stuck in files. This image must change. We all must work together to restore the department’s dignity,” he said.
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He also issued a stern warning regarding departmental accountability and said, “We won’t take action only against JEs (junior engineers) or AEs (assistant engineers). If the chief engineer needs to be suspended, we’ll do it. Anyone negligent will be held accountable regardless of rank,” according to the HT report.