Gurugram Urban Mess: Vaishali Rana, Dikshu Kukreja and Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat Discuss Waterlogging Crisis

Description

In this discussion show, news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai addresses the recurring severe waterlogging in Gurugram, questioning whether the city can still be termed a millennium city or India's sinking city. Environmentalist Vaishali Rana highlights that Gurugram has around 550 kilometres of stormwater drains, but most are encroached upon. She emphasizes that 18 kilometres of the 28-kilometre Badshapur Nala, the primary arterial drain draining into Najafgarh Jhil, is closed due to encroachments, exacerbating the flooding year after year. Retired superintending engineer Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat acknowledges that excessive concretization has drastically reduced the soil's natural water-absorption capacity, causing rapid runoff and flooding along major highways and underpasses due to long-term administrative planning failures. Architect and urban designer Dikshu Kukreja points out that master plans fail to respect natural topography and calls for implementing blue-green infrastructure, permeable footpaths, and future-oriented climate planning. The panellists emphasize administrative accountability, proper town planning, and civic action to address the city's urban infrastructure crisis.