World Heritage Committee Meeting: NDMC keeps 75 Pump on Standby to Battle Waterlogging

New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council has installed CCTV cameras at 20 new locations to monitor waterlogging and procured 75 portable pumps to drain excess water in case there's heavy rainfall during the World Heritage Committee meet here, a civic body member said on Friday.

The WHC meet will be held here in the national capital from July 21 to 31.

"We have six control rooms that will be monitoring the situation while 175 personnel will be on ground. Apart from these, the central Command and Control Room will also keep an eye on the situation," NDMC Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay said.

"There are 120 fixed pumps and 75 portable pumps in place to manage water accumulation," he said.

Forty eight temporary staff operators are on standby for any emergent waterlogging situations, the NDMC vice chairman added.

On June 28, Delhi recorded a record 228 mm of rainfall leading to waterlogging in many posh areas of NDMC, such as Bharti Nagar, Golf Links and Satya Marg.

Upadhyay said CCTV cameras have been installed at Satya Sadan, Lodhi Estate, Africa Avenue underpass, Panchkuian Road, Raisina Road, Nyay Marg, Bharti Nagar and Zakir Hussain Marg.

He said a special beautification drive has been carried out at Khan Market, Connaught Place, and Janpath.

The civic body will also be hosting a special dinner for delegates on July 25 at the Qutub Institutional area, he added.

Upadhyay said Sardar Patel Marg has been adorned with potted plants and floral decorations. The NDMC's Horticulture Department has supplied approximately 50,000 ornamental plants and flowers. Eight floral boards featuring the World Heritage Committee logo will be displayed, he said.

"Special preparations from Sardar Patel Marg to Bharat Mandapam include potted plants, flags, and lights. The Horticulture Department has replaced plants damaged by heat or waterlogging," he added.

All roads in the NDMC area have been repaired and cleared of disruptions caused by heavy rain and all 52 roundabouts in the NDMC area have been beautified, Upadhyay said.

Connaught Place will be illuminated with special lights and trees along Sardar Patel Marg will feature up-lights and hanging lights, he said, adding that colourful flags will also be displayed along this route.

Eleven digital boards in Connaught Place will showcase rare and historic photographs of the area, in collaboration with the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), he said.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, NDMC is installing wall art and sculptures as part of the city's beautification, Upadhyay said.

The WHC session will be at the Bharat Mandapam, which was also the venue for the G20 Summit.