BJP MP Rao Inderjit Singh has blamed infrastructure development carried out during the Congress era for Gurugram’s persistent waterlogging problem, arguing that construction over traditional drainage channels has disrupted the natural flow of rainwater.
His remarks came after heavy rain caused widespread disruption in Gurugram, with at least 14 private school buses carrying students from nursery to Class 12 reportedly stranded for nearly five to six hours on Monday.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Singh said the city continues to face the consequences of earlier development decisions.
“We are still dealing with the consequences of this development that happened during the Congress era today,” he said.
Old Drainage Routes Key to Gurugram Flooding, Says BJP MP
Singh argued that Gurugram’s traditional drainage network played an important role in carrying water from the surrounding hills towards the Yamuna. According to him, construction over these natural and traditional routes has contributed significantly to the recurring waterlogging.
“Waterlogging has been occurring in Gurugram for years. The main reason is that development has taken place over the old, traditional drains that used to carry water from the hills to the Yamuna,” Singh said.
He suggested that simply clearing water after every spell of heavy rain would not provide a permanent solution. Instead, the city needs a large-scale underground drainage network that can restore the original flow routes.
Rao Inderjit Singh Suggests Metro-Style Underground Tunnels
The BJP leader proposed constructing underground tunnels along the routes of the old drainage channels.
“The only way to fix this now is to construct underground tunnels, similar to those built for the Metro, along the paths of the old drains to channel the water through those original routes,” he said.
Such a system, according to Singh, could provide an alternative route for rainwater and reduce the pressure on the city’s existing drainage infrastructure during intense rainfall.
Calls Current Measures a ‘Band-Aid’ Solution
Singh also described the measures currently being taken to tackle waterlogging as temporary arrangements rather than a permanent fix.
“What we are doing right now is essentially a ‘band-aid’ solution. It offers some relief, but if we block the water in one place, it finds a way out elsewhere. The government is working on this, and we are arranging the necessary funds,” he said.
His comments underline the scale of the infrastructure challenge facing Gurugram, where rapid urbanisation has increased pressure on drainage systems.
Singh’s Own Congress Background Comes Into Focus
Singh’s criticism of Congress-era development has also drawn attention because he was himself associated with the Congress for several decades.
He began his political career with the party in 1977 and served as both a Haryana minister and a Union minister during the UPA era. He later won the Gurgaon Lok Sabha seat as a Congress candidate in 2009 before leaving the party and joining the BJP in 2014.
The latest remarks have therefore added a political dimension to the continuing debate over Gurugram’s drainage infrastructure and repeated waterlogging during heavy rainfall.
For residents, however, the immediate concern remains finding a long-term solution to flooding that can keep roads, schools and residential areas functioning even during intense monsoon spells.
