Haryana Human Rights Commission orders Gurugram to overhaul drainage and civic infrastructure

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has called for a city-wide overhaul of Gurugram's drainage and civic systems, declaring that a resilient, adequately planned and effectively maintained infrastructure is essential for a safe, dignified and rights-compliant urban environment.

The three-member Commission, chaired by Lalit Batra, issued a 17-page order after taking suo motu cognisance of recurring waterlogging in the city. The panel has sought a joint compliance report from various civic agencies and outlined a series of corrective measures.

Audit and revamp plan recommended

Among the key recommendations are a comprehensive infrastructure audit, an integrated urban drainage and civic infrastructure revamp plan, mapping of natural drains and encroachments, measures to ensure the safety of schoolchildren, and an emergency mobility plan.

The Commission acted on media reports documenting extensive waterlogging in different parts of Gurugram following heavy rain last month and the resulting inconvenience to residents, particularly schoolchildren. It noted that the matter carried "a significant constitutional and civic planning dimension".

Constitutional obligations invoked

Citing Articles 21, 47 and 48A of the Constitution, the panel emphasized that adequate drainage and sanitation are essential civic requirements, and that deficiencies can adversely affect public health, hygiene and the dignified living conditions of residents.

"Gurugram's drainage problem requires an integrated City-wide Civic Infrastructure Revamping Plan rather than isolated point-wise interventions," the Commission stated, stressing that "school children should not again be placed in a situation where they remain stranded in school buses for several hours during extreme rainfall".

Infrastructure must match city's scale

The Commission observed that Gurugram, as a major urban and economic centre, requires civic infrastructure commensurate with the "scale, density and intensity of its population, built environment and economic activity". It said repeated disruption of roads, schools, emergency services, water supply and ordinary mobility during heavy rainfall cannot be treated as an unavoidable feature of urban life.

The panel clarified that it is not, at this stage, recording a final finding of violation and that the proceedings are aimed at ascertaining the factual position. However, it observed that persistent and foreseeable failure of essential civic infrastructure, if attributable to neglect or inadequate planning, could have a direct bearing on "the enjoyment of human rights".

Source: The Hindu