With the release of 13.56 lakh cusec of water from Hathni Kund barrage in a single day, Delhi faces a risk of flood by Tuesday. The water level in the river Yamuna in Delhi is expected to cross the danger mark by evening.
Expected to cross 207.20 metres, the water level is 2.37 metres above the danger mark of 204.83 metres.
This is the highest amount of water released in a single day from the barrage. Terming it historic release for one day, Delhi Chief Secretary DM Spolia told The Pioneer that the release was the highest since Independence and the Government has sounded an alert in view of flood threat.
The revenue department has been directed to complete evacuation by 12 noon on Tuesday and gear up to meet eventualities. The gates of around 17 drains from Wazirabad to Mukarba Chowk have been closed to prevent water from entering the city.
According to officials, Haryana has released 8.60 lakh cusec water on Monday morning and 5.50 lakh cusec in the evening. With the arrival of monsoon, chances of more water being released at Hathni Kund are also quite high. Spolia called an emergency meeting in view the threat of flood in River Yamuna and to take preventive measures.
The Government has also ordered to shift hundreds of people from Garhi Mandu, Okhla, Usmanpur Pusta, Jagatpur Village and Shastri Nagar to safer places. Besides, the gates of all 12 major drains including Vijay Ghat, Kudasia Ghat, Maharani Bagh drains, Khyber Pass, Metcalf House drain, Jehangirpuri drain, civil military drain, Magazine road drain, Old Chandrawal and Tanga Stand drain that fall in Yamuna have been closed.
"Permanent pumping stations in areas like Mukherjee Nagar, Nehru Vihar-I and II, Gandhi Vihar, lothian Bridge, Civil lines, Vijay Ghat, Nizamuddin have been installed to prevent a flood-like situation. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has 107 permanent pumping stations, 300 portable pumps and 14 high discharge mobile diesel engine pumps. After pumping out water, we throw the water into the Yamuna from a height," officials said.
Earlier, Haryana had released 7.5 lakh cusec of water in a single day in 2010. The travel time for the water discharged from Hathni Kund Barrage to Delhi, varies between 36 to 48 hours. ‘
The first warning is issued as soon as the discharge from Hathni Kund exceeds one lakh cusec, the second warning when the discharge exceeds three lakh cusec and third warning when the flow exceeds five lakh cusec. The suitable actions are taken as per prescribed instructions on issue of first, second and third warning.
During the meeting, Spolia said that shifting of responsibilities would not be tolerated at all. He instructed all the agencies to submit daily report on status of flood in his office by 6.30 pm.
“The jurisdictional issues should not be taken into consideration while tackling the problems emerging out of flood and waterlogging. All agencies must be ready to help each other, keeping in view the situation of flood,” he said.
Spolia also instructed to take review of Eastern Yamuna Bandh, keeping in view the highest discharge expected from Hathini Kund.
There is a need to take review of structural stability of the bandh. He further instructed the Director, local bodies to inform all agencies involved in developmental works in unauthorised colonies to render all possible assistance to the corporations in dealing with flood problems.
The highest flood level recorded was 207.49 meter in 1978 and 207.11 meter in 2010. In the last 40 years, the city had witnessed floods in 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1988, 1995 and 1998, but the flood in 1978 was of serious nature as it had inundated many areas of the city. The water level in Yamuna had touched 207.49 metres then, flooding major areas in East Delhi.