Keshav Prasad Maurya Orders Immediate Compensation and 100-Year Drainage Masterplan in Prayagraj

Prayagraj : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya chaired a high-level review meeting at the Circuit House auditorium on Sunday to address heavy rain, waterlogging, and flood-related damage across the district. Confronting administrative heads and public representatives directly, the Deputy Chief Minister issued stern directives to fast-track crop loss surveys and construct long-term, flood-proof urban infrastructure.

Rapid Crop Loss Survey and Immediate Farmer Compensation
Reviewing the situation in heavily affected rural stretches, district officials confirmed that floodwaters had inundated villages in the Koraon and Bara tehsils. District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma briefed the chair that affected residents were promptly evacuated to designated relief centers where basic amenities, medical assistance, and food supplies are being maintained.

Taking direct note of agricultural distress, Maurya instructed revenue and administrative teams to immediately conduct field assessments of submerged farmland. He emphasized that financial compensation must reach affected farmers without administrative delays. Furthermore, he mandated comprehensive sanitation drives and health camps in receding flood zones to prevent disease outbreaks.

Blueprint for the Next 100 Years: Solving Urban Waterlogging
Addressing severe urban submergence across major intersections—including Medical Chauraha, Rambagh, Georgetown, Tagore Town, and Allapur—Maurya instructed the Municipal Corporation to draft permanent solutions rather than relying on short-term fixes.

"Drainage projects must not be visual patch-ups. Every blueprint should be calculated keeping the city's infrastructure needs for the next 100 years in mind, fully integrating local representatives' feedback."

To resolve urban drainage bottlenecks, the administration outlined several sanctioned interventions:

Infrastructure Upgrades: Sanction approved for a new 40 MLD pumping station paired with an exclusive drainage pipeline spanning from CMP to Mori Gate.

Widening Projects: Widening work approved for the 80-Feet Road channel and the Dandiya Nala.

Bypass Channels: Construction of a bypass drain running behind Kundan Guest House and the EWS Colony to the Allapur pumping station to prevent localized backflow.

To streamline public complaints during monsoon emergencies, the Deputy Chief Minister ordered the immediate setup of a dedicated WhatsApp group linking local municipal ward councilors, MLAs, MPs, and departmental engineers. He placed a strict 24-hour deadline on clearing standing water from any urban location.

Crackdown on Sewer Mismanagement and Riverbed Encroachments
Expressing strong displeasure over public grievances regarding unfinished or faulty works carried out by the Ganga Pollution Control Unit, Maurya ordered mandatory on-site re-inspections. Executing agencies were warned that pending flaws must be rectified immediately without compromising on engineering quality. Additionally, he instructed officials to enforce a mandatory mapping protocol for all underground sewer networks so incoming officers possess clear layout data.

Concluding the session, Maurya issued a zero-tolerance mandate against illegal encroachments along the vulnerable floodplains (Kachhar) of the Ganga River, directing continuous monitoring to protect natural river corridors.

The high-level review saw active participation from key administrative and political leaders, including Divisional Commissioner Dr. Lokesh M, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, Phulpur MP Praveen Patel, MLAs Dr. Vachaspati, Harshvardhan Bajpayee, Guru Prasad Maurya, MLC Dr. KP Srivastava, Chief Development Officer Harshika Singh, alongside senior engineers and departmental heads.

(Report by Zainul Abdin)