No threat of floods in Delhi: Minister

NEW DELHI - The water level of the Yamuna receded in the capital Thursday but the river was still flowing nearly two metres above the danger mark. Minister Rajkumar Chauhan assured that there was no threat of floods in Delhi and everything was under control.

Speaking on the flood-like situation in Delhi, Chauhan, the Delhi government’s minister of irrigation and flood control, also appealed to the people living in areas near the river’s banks not to panic.

“It is for the first time that so much quantity of water has been released at once in the Yamuna during the last 100 years. But there is no danger of flood in Delhi,” he said.

The minister visited various flood-affected areas like Kudasia Park Boat Club, Sonia Vihar, Garhi Mandu and Usmanpur Pusta.

“The water level of Yamuna is expected to decrease to 205.85 metres by Friday evening and is expected to remain stable,” he added.

Chauhan said the government is closely monitoring the situation and was prepared to meet any challenges.

Divisional Commissioner (East), D.M. Spolia informed that all necessary arrangements including mobile medical teams, Delhi Jal Board tankers and sanitary arrangements are in place.

More than 1,500 camps have been pitched at various places in the low-lying areas. Around 9,000 persons at various locations have been evacuated, he said.

In addition, 72 boats and 68 divers/boatmen along with a team of National Disaster Relief Force are camping near ISBT to meet any emergency.

The Yamuna had already started receding Thursday morning and was at 206.64 metres in the evening. The river, however is still flowing over 1.81 metres above the danger mark.

The water level had risen by 2.25 metres above the danger mark Wednesday night and had touched 207.08 metres.

Earlier this month, a discharge of over six lakh cusecs of water from Haryana had caused a flood threat. However, the water was dispersed as parts of the Yamuna embankment were damaged in Panipat in Haryana, letting some of the water out.

After the Yamuna crossed the 207-mark Wednesday, many drains and sewage lines near residential colonies like GTB Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, areas near Delhi University’s North Campus and Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminus were waterlogged with nearly two-foot water.

Several low-lying areas of Delhi like New Usmanpur, Sarita Vihar, Kalindi Kunj, Jamia Nagar and Wazirabad were flooded Tuesday and people were shifted to temporary shelter camps.

Breaking a 32-year-record, Haryana released a maximum discharge of 744,507 cusecs water from the Hathinikund barrage Monday, creating panic of flood in Delhi.

Earlier this month, a discharge of over six lakh cusecs of water from Haryana had caused a flood threat. However, the water was dispersed as parts of the Yamuna embankment were damaged in Panipat in Haryana, letting some of the water out.