Yamuna still over danger level but situation under control

New Delhi, Aug 19 (UNI) The Yamuna river continued to flow above the danger level, at 205.68 m but the situation remains under control, Delhi Government said today.

''The water level of the Yamuna stands at 205.68 m. However, the level is likely to decline within 24 hours because of the dry conditions prevailing in the upper catchment for the past 48 hours,'' Chief Engineer of the Flood and Irrigation Control Department M C T Pareva told UNI here.

Meanwhile, special camps have been set up in several areas including Usmanpur, Batla House, Nigambodh Ghat and Chilla village in Mayur Vihar Phase 1 to house people living in these low-lying areas.

While in Usmanpur, 100 tents have been put up for the families, at Batla House tent arrangements have been made for people who continue to stay in their houses or jhuggies.

At Chilla Village in Mayur Vihar Phase-I, 25 families have been moved to a school and are being provided cooked food by NGOs.

Strict vigil is being kept by the Divisional Commissioner(DC)s on the emerging situation and dry ration, flood lights, medical facilities and drinking water have been provided by the DCs. NGOs have also joined in to provide cooked food wherever required.

''The water level is expected to decline if there is no rain in the upper catchment area of the Yamuna River,''Mr Pareva said.

The Irrigation and Flood control Department has closed many of the sluice gates at important points to stop the backflow of water at Vijay Ghat, Metcalf House, Jahangirpuri Drain, Najafgarh Drain and other supplementary drains.

On the main drains, regulators are being managed to ensure that there is no backflow in the upper areas of the colonies. Pumpsets have been deployed to pump water into the Yamuna River on those points where sluices have been closed. So far, 44 cms of rain has taken place in Delhi, whereas normal rainfall is between 60-65 cms.

A constant watch is being kept on the situation by the DC, the Deputy Commissioners as well as Irrigation and Flood Department.

The Monsoon Plan, which was prepared in June, 2008, is being implemented meticulously.

The Flood and Irrigation Control Department says the rise in the water level, from its danger level of 204.83 m, has been due to the release of water by Haryana from the Hathni Kund barrage.

The swollen river has flooded several fields along the river bed and a number of jhuggis were inundated due to the rising waters.

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