Agencies may need DDMA nod for digging

The Delhi government is considering a proposal to curb incidents of gap pipeline damage and fires by asking all agencies undertaking digging works to seek a Delhi Disaster Management Authority nod before initiating a project.

At present, contractors and other agencies seek permission only from the road owning agencies – civic agencies and Public Works Department – before carrying out digging work.

The proposal for a mandatory DDMA nod for digging work has been drafted by the Authority in view of the recent fire incident in Dhaula Kuan caused by damage to a gas pipeline of Gas Authority of India Ltd.

“We suggested the involvement of DDMA as a measure to reduce disaster risk,” said a senior official of the revenue department.

Sources said at present the road owning agencies mechanically give approval for digging projects without seriously assessing the risk that the work carries due to presence of gas, water, sewer, power and optical fibre networks of cables and lines under the roads.

There are several roads on which only trenchless digging is allowed. Since this technique requires a very small tunnel to be made, officials of civic agencies consider it safe and casually give permission for digging, said an official.

The Dhaula Kuan incident took place near Venkateshwara College in January when four vehicles caught fire and 10 fire tenders were pressed into service to control the situation. Traffic was also forced to be diverted after the pipe, which provided natural gas to consumers like Maruti Udyog, was damaged.

Massive Metro construction work was also going on close to the fire spot and the fire was triggered by a drill unit that punctured the pipeline, causing a minor explosion causing fire.

A senior revenue department official said, “Risk reduction and preparedness to handle disasters were the two key focus of the disaster management strategy.”
“It is under this strategy that we have suggested a role for the DDMA in approval for future digging projects,” he said.