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Delhi's Yamuna River Fails to Reach Warning Level This Monsoon
28 Aug
Summary
- Yamuna in Delhi hasn't reached its modest warning level this monsoon.
- Most river water is diverted to canals, leaving the river stream depleted.
- Low flow threatens ecological health and groundwater recharge in floodplains.
The Yamuna River in Delhi has experienced an unusually dry monsoon this year, failing to reach its modest warning level of 204.50 metres. As of Thursday, the river's flow at the Old Railway Bridge was measured at 202.52 metres, with forecasts indicating steady levels over the coming week.
Experts express concern that this missed annual "monsoon flush" is detrimental to the river's ecological health and crucial for replenishing groundwater in the floodplains. This annual swelling typically supports aquatic life and recharges underground aquifers.
The low water levels are linked to erratic rainfall in the river's upper catchment and a significant diversion of water at the Hathnikund barrage. Approximately 410 cumecs are being released into the Western Yamuna Canal, while only between 9.9 and 120 cumecs are directed into the river stream.
Historically, the Yamuna has rarely failed to reach the 204.5-metre mark in the past decade. The insufficient monsoonal flow deprives the river of its ability to flush accumulated contaminants and maintain its environmental health, as recommended by the National Institute of Hydrology.
