The Hindu : New Delhi News : Bhakra mainline to be closed

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Saturday, Sep 08, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Bhakra mainline to be closed

Staff Reporter

Delhi has to make arrangements to meet the demand for water

Nangloi and Wazirabad plants get 60 and 200 cusecs of water respectively from the BBMB
DJB says it is confident of meeting the city’s demand for water during the 15-day period

NEW DELHI: The Upper Yamuna River Board’s direction to Haryana, preventing them from closing down the Western Yamuna Canal for maintenance work, may have spelt relief for Delhi but the impending closure of the Bhakra mainline for annual maintenance will keep the city on tenterhooks.

The Nangloi water treatment plant gets 60 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and another 200 cusecs is released to the Wazirabad water treatment plant. And with the mainline scheduled to close down between October 10 and 25, the city will have to make alternative arrangements to meet the demand for water.

The BBMB had recently announced its intent to close the mainline for annual maintenance work and asked the States of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to make suitable arrangements for procuring water for drinking and irrigation purposes.

“We have been informed of the BBMB decision and have in turn alerted the Delhi Jal Board. Because the Nangloi plant is completely dependent on the water from the BBMB, they will have to rely on other sources to procure water for the plant,” said a senior Haryana Irrigation Department official.

For its part, the DJB says it is confident of being able to meet the city’s demand for water during the 15-day period.

“We have been informed about closure of the Bakhra mainline, but we are sure that there will be no difficulties faced during that period. Delhi has a share in the Yamuna water, which is between 1,500 and 2,000 cusecs. And during the flood season, the Yamuna easily releases that much water,” said DJB Chief Executive Officer Arun Mathur.

The DJB says it is confident that “by lifting more water from the Yamuna during the period it will be able to offset the shortfall”.

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