New Delhi: The water level in the Yamuna increased by around 2 metres in the past one day due to increased discharge from Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana. At Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge, the water level reached 204.14 metres on Wednesday at 4pm, moving closer to the river’s warning level of 204.5m. However, the level dipped slightly to 204.08m at 9pm. The danger level for Old Railway Bridge is 205.33m. The highest flood level recorded was 208.66m in 2023 when Delhi experienced the Yamuna flood. During the 1978 flood, the level reached 207.49m. It stood at 207.11m in 2010 and 207.32m in 2013.According to data from Central Water Commission, the water discharge at Hathnikund Barrage exceeded 50,000 cusecs for nearly five hours for the first time this season during late Monday night. The discharge reached its highest point of 54,707 cusecs at 1am on Tuesday. Experts said Delhi might witness elevated water levels on Thursday as water takes 48 hours to reach the city. On Wednesday morning, the peak discharge of over 21,000 cusecs was seen for around three hours.Yamuna activist Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, said, “After the July 2023 deluge, the river has not witnessed any flood spell in 2024 and so far in this monsoon season. It is the first time in this monsoon that the river has received a peak discharge of 50,000 cusecs plus for five hours from Hathnikund Barrage. As a result, the river water level in Delhi is bound to reach closer to the warning level of 204.5m at Old Railway Bridge. This is quite natural and should not raise any flood alarm.”He said the real concern should be how the river level was reaching close to the warning level even with these low discharges. “This indicates a gradual increase in the riverbed level in Delhi due to siltation and floodplain encroachment. The govt should conduct a geomorphological and cross-sectional study of the entire river course in the upper segment,” said Rawat. He added that to see a cleaner Yamuna in Delhi, it must be allowed maximum flows during the monsoon to facilitate the recharge of groundwater and the flushing of pollutants accumulating in the riverbed throughout the year.Irrigation and flood control department data shows that from 1962, the warning level was crossed at Old Railway Bridge 53 times. According to a recent flood control order issued by the department, the first warning will be issued by Central Flood Control Room as soon as the discharge from Hathnikund Barrage exceeds 1 lakh cusecs. The relevant sector control rooms will start functioning and keep a vigil in their areas. The second warning will be issued when the discharge from the barrage exceeds 3 lakh cusecs. People residing within the river embankments will be warned and arrangements will be made to shift them to safer places. The third warning will be given when the barrage release exceeds 5 lakh cusecs. People residing in dangerously exposed areas will be advised to remain alert and move to places of higher altitude, if needed.
