In view of the monsoon approaching the city, the Delhi government's Public Works Department has directed that no field staff of its maintenance units will be permitted to take leave during this period without prior approval, as preparations were on to keep the city free of waterlogging.

As per an office order, ''In view of the oncoming monsoon season, it has been decided by the competent authority that no field staff of road maintenance unit and electrical units maintaining Storm Water Pump houses under the control of Public Works Department will be allowed to take leaves during the monsoon period,'' it said. The PWD maintains 1260-km roads in New Delhi. To keep the city waterlogging free, the civic agencies are carrying out removal of silt and garbage of drains in a big way. The PWD and the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) hoped that the desilting of drains would be completed before the onset of monsoon by month-end.

Earlier, a senior PWD official said that it was ''on track'' and would be completed between June 20 and 25.According to a rough estimate, there are around 2,000 drains, spanning around 1,054 km, which come under the PWD, the official said.

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