No chance of flood in Delhi, government in alert mode: Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi (IANS). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said there was no flood-like situation in the national capital despite the release of three lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water from the Hathinikund barrage. The water level of Yamuna is below the danger mark.
Arvind Kejriwal said that even if such a situation arises, the Delhi government is ready to handle it. He also called for cooperation between the neighboring state governments and all party leaders in these challenging times.
Arvind Kejriwal said that this is not the time to point fingers at each other. I believe that all the state governments in North India are working to help their people. All parties and governments should work together to provide relief to the people. I would like to express my gratitude to the MLAs, councilors and ministers of all parties, who were on the ground in Delhi during this rainy season, providing relief to the people.
He further said that this time the problem was serious and all efforts seemed insufficient. The capital received 153 mm of rain during 24 hours on July 8 and 9, breaking a 40-year record. The drainage system in Delhi was not ready to deal with such heavy rains.
Kejriwal said that in the last three to four years, the city received a maximum of 100 mm of rain and waterlogged areas were cleared within one-and-a-half hours. But, 153 mm of rain is unprecedented. This has created huge problems for the citizens. People are wondering whether Delhi will face floods. This is due to two factors – the amount of rainfall in Delhi and the water released by Haryana from the Hathinikund Barrage, which could lead to a flood-like situation. Water comes from Himachal Pradesh in Hathinikund barrage.
He further said that Delhi was flooded in 1978, when 7 lakh cusecs of water was released from Hathinikund barrage, due to which the Yamuna river level crossed 207.49 meters at the old bridge. In 2013, 8 lakh cusecs of water was released from Hathinikund Barrage and Yamuna level reached 207.32 mm, but it did not cause floods.
In 2019, 8.28 lakh cusecs of water was released from Hathinikund barrage and the river level reached 206.6 mm, yet there was no flood. On July 9, 45 thousand cusecs of water was released into Yamuna from Hathinikund barrage. Three lakh cusecs of additional water was released later that night and since Monday morning about 2.5 lakh cusecs more has been released.
Arvind Kejriwal said that his government is in constant touch with the Central Water Commission (CWC). According to his assessment, the current water level in the river is 203.58 metres, which will rise to 205.5 meters by Tuesday morning. According to the weather forecast, the water level in Yamuna will not increase further.
According to Arvind Kejriwal, experts say that there will be no flood like situation. However, if it does happen, we are ready. If the water level rises to 206 metres, we will start evacuation. We have identified 41,000 people living in the surrounding areas and have set up relief camps for them. 680 pumps of the Public Works Department (PWD) are working to remove water from the affected areas. In addition, 326 temporary pumps have been installed to deal with water-logging. Delhi government is using 100 mobile pumps to reach different areas.
CM Arvind Kejriwal said that there is a possibility that potholes have formed in some areas due to rain. We cannot repair them at the moment as they will break again. However, we can fill them with stones to prevent accidents. We have given instructions to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. At all construction sites, we have ordered opening of all drains and sewers.”
He said that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area was also badly affected by the rains. Therefore, NDMC has been directed to study the situation and make a special plan to prevent such incidents in future. An inquiry has been ordered into three incidents of road subsidence during rains.
