The Hindu : New Delhi News : Yamuna begins to recede

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Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
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Yamuna begins to recede

Staff Reporter

Haryana scales down the quantity of water being released into the river

Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Rescue operation: Usmanpur area residents being evacuated from their jhuggis on the Yamuna embankments in East Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Tuesday came with respite for the city as the water level in the Yamuna began to recede. Much to the relief of the administration, the water level dipped from Monday’s 205.68 metres to 205.65 metres and is expected to go down further in the next 24 hours.

According to officials, the water level started receding after Haryana scaled down the quantity of water being released into the river. To ensure there is no spill-over into the city, the administration is still releasing about 40,000 cusecs downstream of Wazirabad.

“The water level is expected to go down further. Hopefully by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the level will have reached 205.55 metres,” said an official of the flood control department.

As a precaution, the tents that have been set up at Usmanpur, Nigambodh Ghat, Chilla Village and Batla House will continue to provide shelter to the people who have been evacuated from the low lying areas.

On August 16, the water level had reached 205.43 metres, which is about 1.40 metres above the danger mark. Taking note of the threat to life and property, the administration had moved people from the flood prone areas and set up control rooms to keep a watch on the water flow in the river.

Meanwhile, power distribution company BSES has joined in the relief work being carried out by the administration. The company distributed around 20,000 food packets in affected areas and relief camps under its jurisdiction.

MCD to do its bit

To assist in relief and evacuation measures carried out by the administration, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has decided to extend a helping hand by way of providing basic public health and sanitation measures.

As per the decision taken at the meeting of the MCD Standing Committee on Tuesday, the civic body would be undertaking fumigation of the areas along with providing pumps and basic cleanliness measures to prevent deterioration of the situation.

MCD Commissioner K. S. Mehra said: “The MCD will be taking whatever measures it is competent of taking in the matter though the relief and evacuation procedures are primarily the responsibility of the Flood and Irrigation Department.”

Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta directed the MCD Medical Health Officer Dr. N. K. Yadav to start spraying programme in the affected areas with immediate effect.

The matter came up at the meeting after several councillors pointed out the difficulties being faced by people in their wards due to Yamuna’s flooding.

Several councillors alleged that even basic facilities including food, electricity and sanitation were not being provided by the Delhi Government in areas such as Usmanpur among others.

Councillor Rajni Abbi said: “Mukherjee Nagar is a low lying area and owing to the closure of sewer traps ordered by the Government, they have become choked and blocked leading to collapse of the entire drainage system. Both sewer and drainage have become mixed resulting in flooding of alleys and streets especially in Mukherjee Nagar.”

According to Councillor Surender Choudhary, about five feet of standing water had been reported in Wazirabad area due to flooding in addition to one death reported from drowning. “Due to flooding, crops worth crores have been destroyed in areas such as Burari, Usmanpur and Jagatpur. I demand that MCD officials survey the affected area and provide high capacity pumps to de-water the areas such as Wazirabad and Sangam Vihar,” he added.

PTI adds:

Child drowns

A three-and-a-half-year-old boy drowned in the Yamuna river in the National Capital on Tuesday. Sunny, who lived with his parents on the river bank, fell into the river in Shantivan area in central Delhi this afternoon, a senior official said. Fire brigade officials rushed to the spot and recovered the body. “We received information about the incident this afternoon and immediately rushed the fire brigade to the spot,” Deputy Commissioner (East) S. S. Gangotra said.

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