Greater Noida West: A night of rain has brought renewed attention to water management and monsoon preparedness at Amrapali Golf Homes and Kingswood Society, where residents reported extensive waterlogging in basement and parking areas.
According to residents, several lakh litres of rainwater accumulated in the basement, with multiple vehicles reportedly getting submerged and suffering damage.
The situation left parts of the basement covered with water, mud and debris, while residents were forced to walk through the accumulated water to reach their vehicles.
Vehicles Submerged After Heavy Rain
Residents said the intensity of waterlogging was such that several vehicles parked in the basement and parking areas were affected.
The flooded basement also created difficulties for residents trying to access their vehicles.
Residents have raised concerns over whether the existing drainage and pumping arrangements are adequate to deal with heavy rainfall during the monsoon.
Residents Question Construction Quality And Preparedness
Resident Dilip Kumar alleged that poor-quality construction work by NBCC has contributed to recurring problems during rainfall.
He also questioned the preparedness of the current Adhoc AOA, alleging that adequate arrangements were not made despite the monsoon being a predictable annual event.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
Rainwater Harvesting System Under Scrutiny
Residents have also raised questions over the availability and effectiveness of the rainwater harvesting system in the society.
According to Dilip Kumar, rainwater is accumulating in the basement instead of being effectively channelled for groundwater recharge.
He alleged that after water accumulates, it is pumped out into a drain, resulting in the loss of potentially usable rainwater.
Residents are demanding a permanent system that can simultaneously address basement flooding and ensure effective rainwater harvesting.
‘Residents Struggling For Water While Rainwater Is Wasted’
Residents also highlighted what they described as a contradiction in the society’s water situation.
While thousands of residents have reportedly faced concerns related to drinking-water availability, large quantities of rainwater are allegedly being allowed to accumulate in basements and subsequently discharged.
Residents said rainwater should instead be channelled through an effective harvesting and groundwater-recharge system.
Residents Demand Independent Investigation
Residents have called upon the concerned authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the waterlogging and assess the quality of the construction and drainage infrastructure.
They have also demanded that responsibility be fixed if deficiencies are found and that NBCC be directed to establish an effective rainwater harvesting and permanent drainage system.
Residents said a long-term solution is necessary to prevent repeated basement flooding, protect vehicles and reduce the economic losses and inconvenience faced by families every monsoon.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the need for proper stormwater management and monsoon preparedness in high-rise housing societies, particularly in areas where large basement parking spaces can quickly become vulnerable to heavy rainfall.