SDMC to strengthen drainage system in unauthorised colonies

New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) The South Delhi MunicipalCorporation (SDMC) will spend Rs 35 crore to improvesanitation in over 1000 unauthorised colonies by strengtheningthe drainage system. The move comes after Delhi government gave green signalto the works. "The drainage system in unauthorised colonies in SDMCarea was lying in a state of neglect as the civic body was notallowed to spend non plan fund there. Now we have receivedpermission from Delhi government to do work there," said SouthDelhi mayor Subhash Arya. SDMC will spend Rs 35 crore on repairs and maintenance aswell as desilting of drains in all wards of electedcouncillors, he said. There are a total of 1008 unauthorised colonies locatedunder South, Central, West and Najafgarh zones of SDMC dividedinto 104 wards. The civic body is in constant touch with Delhi governmentregarding development works in unauthorised colonies,particularly drainage system, and letters were written forfunds in this regard, Arya said. "We had also announced in our budget that repair anddesilting works will be taken up in unauthorised colonies atpriority level. However, the work was stalled due tounavailability of funds and permission of government," hesaid. Now, SDMC will spend Rs 35 crore from its own funds tostart the work, he said. All the elected councillors have been asked to contactengineering department’s junior engineers to improve drainagesystem in their respective wards, he added. PTI VITDV