They will have to carry not one but two stepneys because one can never be sure which wheel of the car may thrust into the soil and when. They are advised to take along a bone specialist too because at some places the vehicle may jump several feet high and then come down with a thud. That could dislocate the bones of those bureaucrats who are used to sitting in their luxurious settings round the clock.

But if all this is to happen to them on their way to different localities, will they be able to solve any problems except adding to their own physical worries? It would therefore be advisable to suggest that the top bureaucrats make a real survey of the low-lying areas to catch a glimpse of the horrible time through which they are passing.

The main cause for this horrifying situation is the lack of a proper drainage system. A long-term task should be to pinpoint the responsibility of those who allowed the city's expansion, but paid little attention to the urgency of having a good drainage system. Water can be pumped out with machines no doubt, but that is not the solution. Besides, often the pumping sets may not be available all the time. Even if they are, some of them might not be in working order. The only effective solution is to have a drainage system that is well maintained round the clock the whole year round.

Had our Nagar Nigam authorities been careful from the beginning itself, they would have given top priority to the laying of drains before allowing any construction work in the neighbourhood. Right now the work on the setting up of drains and laying of sewer lines is on. But it has been going on for nearly two years now with no results worth the name. When funds are there, why isn't the work being done speedily and properly? Had there been no urgency about the Mahakumbh, the authorities in Lucknow might never have bothered to carry out even the superficial inspections and issue mock warnings and threats to the erring contractors, officials and engineers - warnings which are never carried out.