Yamuna water level in Delhi to touch danger mark Thursday evening
By IANSWednesday, September 8, 2010
CHANDIGARH/ NEW DELHI - With Haryana releasing over five lakh cusecs of water in the Yamuna river following incessant rains, the water level in the river in the national capital is expected to touch the danger mark by Thursday evening.
Haryana has released 5,66,728 cusecs of water following heavy rains in the state’s Yamunanagar district, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, that will finally reach New Delhi in the next two days, an official in the Flood and Irrigation department told IANS.
The water level is 204.12 at present and is expected to touch the danger mark of 204.83 metres by 6.20 p.m. Thursday, he said, adding: “We are prepared to deal with the situation.”
Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary (irrigation) S.S. Dhillon said the Delhi government had been informed.
Over 600,000 cusecs of water was released through the Tajewala headworks Wednesday. This is the highest inflow of water released towards Delhi in recent weeks.
In view of the heavy rainfall in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh since Tuesday and resultant increase in flow of water in Yamuna, Som and Pathrala rivers, the Haryana government has alerted the district administrations of Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Sonepat districts as a preventive measure.
Haryana Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati, who reviewed the flood situation in a meeting with senior officers here said that the Sonepat district administration has been directed to vacate Hasanpur and Manauli Tonki villages as a preventive measure.
The Ambala district administration has alerted the army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to help it in case of any emergent situation.
Bilaspur area in Yamunanagar district recorded 310 mm of rainfall Wednesday, resulting in increased inflow in the Yamuna river.
The Yamunanagar district administration has urged the people to keep children away from Yamuna river and village councils (panchayats) have also been asked to remain in touch with the authorities.
The Chharauli-Poanta Sahib National Highway Number 73-A has been closed to traffic and an alert has been sounded in villages situated on the banks of the Yamuna.
