A day after commuters in Okhla grappled with the severe inconvenience caused by waterlogged roads near Shaheen Bagh graveyard, former Okhla MLA Asif Mohammad Khan, accompanied by his daughter and local Councillor Ariba Khan, announced on Friday that the long-standing sewer waterlogging issue in the area has finally been addressed.
The father-daughter duo asserted that their sustained efforts and timely interventions have brought a permanent solution, ending six months of hardship for residents and daily travelers alike.
Khan, said the root cause of sewer waterlogging has been discovered and cleared after the use of a JCB machine. “Within one hour, the water started flowing rapidly. I believe in another hour or so, the entire area will be dry,” he told the OT.
Key Points:
Waterlogging at Shaheen Bagh road near graveyard persisted for over six months.
Former MLA Asif Mohammad Khan oversaw drain cleaning with JCB machinery.
He blamed MLA Amanatullah Khan for an alleged obstruction caused by a crossing pipe.
Water reportedly began flowing within an hour of clearing debris.
Asif claimed to have found a “permanent solution” to the issue.
Six-month waterlogging issue in Shaheen Bagh
According to Khan, residents had been suffering from water accumulation for nearly six months, with rainwater and drain overflow repeatedly flooding the roads and homes in the locality. He said residential areas in N block used also to be flooded with sewer water accumulation for days in a nearby mosque and house.
Haji Tajuddin, a resident of N-Block who actively worked to get the issue resolved, said: “The basement of the mosque in N-Block used to flood, making it difficult for devotees to perform wudu. Several houses also suffered as water from the overflowing Abul Fazal Enclave nallah would backflow into their basements. Now that the work has been completed, we hope residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
Asif Khan and Ariba said a drive to clean the drain had been ongoing for nearly 20 days, starting from the Agra Canal side and stretching nearly two kilometres through the forest area in Shaheen Bagh, but the problem persisted because of an unseen blockage.
Asif blames Amanatullah for drain obstruction
Khan alleged that the blockage occurred due to the actions of Amanatullah Khan, the sitting MLA from Okhla.
“Locals informed us that Amanatullah had installed a crossing pipe near Allama Shibli Nomani Road. That pipe broke the main drain lines and was later covered with debris,” he said.
After the debris was removed, Khan said, water immediately began to flow freely through the drain. “This was the main cause of the problem. Once we cleared it, the water started draining rapidly. I can now say confidently that the issue has been permanently solved,” he added.
However, the claim made by Asif Khan was dismissed by Amanatullah’s supporters, who said the former Congress Okhla MLA has a habit of shifting the blame onto others.
Guarantees no further overflow in Shaheen Bagh
Khan assured that there would be no further waterlogging in the area.
“Unless Amanatullah connects the Jasola drain to this one, I guarantee with full responsibility that not a single drop of water will overflow,” he said.
He said from Saturday onwards, desilting work would be carried out from Shaheen Bagh to Jamia Nagar Police Station to ensure long-term flow.
Criticism of AAP Government and MLA
The former legislator criticised the past Delhi government led by AAP and sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan, alleging negligence and mismanagement.
“Wherever Amanatullah has laid sewer lines, problems have increased. The lines we installed during our term are still functioning properly,” Asif said. He further claimed that unauthorised colonies receive inadequate municipal support.
“We don’t get a separate budget for these colonies. Amanatullah gets money, but we receive nothing. We get a few sanitation workers,” he said.
Khan also accused Amanatullah of laying “fake drinking water pipelines” in parts of Shaheen Bagh and Abul Fazal Enclave, saying many residents still don’t get clean water despite the claims.
Community reaction
Locals welcomed the drain-clearing work, saying the water had finally started to recede after weeks of flooding. “If this solution works, it will be a big relief,” said a nearby shopkeeper. However, many residents were skeptical whether the move will be effective with one resident commenting that the reality will only be known after it rains.
