Yamuna floodwaters filled about 15 acres of a 25-acre reservoir, which is being built as a pilot project to store water from the river along the floodplain, said officials.
“This is the first time that the reservoir was filled with water from Yamuna and it is a good sign,” an official privy to the development said.
Water overflowing from the Yamuna during monsoons will be stored in the 25-acre reservoir between Palla and Wazirabad and it will help to recharge the groundwater, which is depleting in the city. The reservoir, which will have 1.5-2 metre depth, is being constructed on a 40-acre piece of land.
“Water will flow into the shallow reservoir through the inlets at the river when the water level in the river is above 207.5 metres at Sungherpur. On Friday, it filled about 15 acres of the reservoir,” the official said.
Most of the water in the reservoir percolated and on Saturday, water was there only in about five acres of the reservoir.
Inlets yet to be built
“We are yet to built the inlets from the river to the reservoir but since the water level was high, it flowed over a piece of land between the reservoir and Yamuna,” the official said.
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department is also in the process of installing around 12 piezometers to measure the water table before and after percolation. This will be used to access the success of the project.
On August 9, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had inaugurated the work on the reservoir. The official said the working is happening round the clock and the reservoir is set to be completed by August 20.
