New Delhi, Aug 27: The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to immediately take steps to secure an open drain in Okhla, warning that its unprotected condition poses a serious safety risk to residents and commuters.
A division bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the direction after examining photographs showing the condition of the drain.The court instructed the MCD to cover the drain with slabs and construct a separator wall between the drain and the adjoining road.
It also directed the civic body to ensure regular desilting and cleaning of the area.The MCD had informed the court that reflectors and lights had already been installed near the drain. However, it said construction of the separator wall required a No Objection Certificate from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department.
The department had sought 10 days to issue the NOC. However, considering the potential danger to the public, the High Court directed the MCD not to wait for the certificate and to proceed with the safety measures immediately.The court also expressed concern over the presence of garbage and other waste in and around the drain and directed the civic body to maintain the area properly.
The order comes days after a 15-year-old boy died after falling into an open drain in Jasola while reportedly trying to catch a kite on his way to school. His body was recovered four days later, according to the report.The High Court has previously raised concerns over the safety of open drains in the capital. In August 2024, it criticised civic authorities after a woman and her three-year-old son drowned after falling into a deep open drain during the monsoon.
The earlier case also involved questions over whether the MCD or the Delhi Development Authority was responsible for the drain. A police inquiry subsequently found the drain to be under the DDA’s jurisdiction.The latest order underscores the court’s concern that exposed and poorly maintained drains can pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly during the monsoon season.
The MCD has now been directed to prioritise protective measures, drainage maintenance and cleanliness around the Okhla site without further delay.
