Sipu Jha
NEW DELHI: The water level of the Yamuna at Old Railway Bridge in the city rose to the season’s high of 205.15 metres at 3am on Friday for two hours. After coming close to the danger level of 205.33m, the water level, however, started dipping from 5am, reaching 205.13m, and went below the warning level by 8pm. The Yamuna remained above the warning level of 204.5m until 7pm. It dropped from 204.58m at 7pm to 204.49m at 8pm, according to data from Central Water Commission. Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator at South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, said, “This is the first time in this season the flood level in the Yamuna has not only crossed the warning level but reached closer to the danger level in Delhi. There is a halt in rainfall in the upper catchment, ruling out any flood possibility for the next few days. At the same time, the Yamuna has witnessed historic flood spells in late monsoon months, and Delhi must be watchful and prepared.“
Rawat said the fresh flood spell had helped the river flow freely, restore its hydrological functions and flush out toxins dumped in it throughout the year. “While the effluents generation is ongoing and treatment plants continue to perform poorly, the river is stinking-free and has improved water quality. This again underlines why floods and flows are essential for its revival in Delhi.”
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He, however, listed a few worrying points. “Firstly, the river has not seen any low or medium-scale flood event so far, which is unusual. Secondly, even during the monsoon, river flows are being diverted in increasing amounts. Thirdly, with insignificant flows, the river is breaching the warning level in Delhi, which is not happening at dozens of flood monitoring stations up and downstream of Delhi.” Rawat also pointed out that during the past two days, the water level went beyond the forecast twice. “This suggests unquantified flows entering the Yamuna through seasonal rivers and drains downstream of Hathnikund Barrage and a gradual increase in the riverbed level in Delhi,” he added.
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