Home / Disasters and Accidents / Delhi May Revise Yamuna Flood Marks Amid Rising Fears
Delhi May Revise Yamuna Flood Marks Amid Rising Fears
14 Apr
Summary
- Delhi may raise Yamuna's warning and danger flood marks.
- Siltation and lack of dredging have altered river levels.
- 2023 floods breached records set in 1978, impacting low-lying areas.
The Delhi government is contemplating an increase in the Yamuna River's flood warning and danger levels. Officials propose raising the warning mark from 204.5 meters to 205 meters and the danger mark from 205.33 meters to 205.75 meters. This reassessment is attributed to changes in the river's base levels caused by years of siltation and insufficient dredging.
The river's water levels are measured at the Old Delhi Railway Bridge. In July 2023, the Yamuna reached a record high of 208.66 meters, surpassing the previous 1978 record and leading to widespread flooding in low-lying regions. Water flow from the Hathnikund barrage exceeded 2,00,000 cusecs during this period.
Experts and activists point to multiple failures, including poor flood forecasting, riverbed siltation, and floodplain encroachments, as reasons for the increased flood risk. They emphasize that simply altering the flood marks is insufficient and advocate for comprehensive studies, halting waste dumping, and clearing encroachments to improve the river's water-carrying capacity.
