As the water level in the Yamuna is expected to touch the warning level at the Old Railway Bridge here on Monday morning, residents living along the banks have been evacuated and State officials are on standby to face any adverse situation.
With 47,000 cusecs of water having been released upstream at the Hathnikund barrage on Saturday, the water in the Yamuna is expected to reach over 204 metres by mid-morning on Monday.
“At present, the water level is about 203.96 metres and it is expected to be about 204.15 metres by 11 a.m. on Monday,” said Irrigation and Flood Control Department Chief Engineer V.P.S. Tomar, adding the local rainfall is a significant contributor to the water level.
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“The Yamuna is expected to reach the warning mark by mid-morning but could cross the warning mark even before that,” he said.
The Central Flood Forecasting division of the Central Water Commission monitors the flood discharges of the Yamuna from the upper catchment areas and issues flood forecasting bulletins. Danger levels are monitored keeping the water level at the Old Railway Bridge as a reference. While the warning mark for the Yamuna is 204 metres, the danger level is 204.83 metres. The highest levels have been recorded in 1978 at 207.49 metres and as recently as 2010 at 207.11 metres.
Department of Revenue’s Deputy Commissioner (East) Dr. B. M. Mishra is, however, optimistic about the rising water levels and says that the levels are within the danger mark.
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“Ample precautions have been taken and announcements have been made to caution people residing in the basin area. Some of them have been evacuated,” he said. “Thirteen boats have been placed on standby and routine vigil is being carried out. All district control rooms are monitoring the situation.”
In June, chairing a meeting of the Apex Committee for Flood Control 2012, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had directed all civic agencies and departments to work in tandem for ensuring there is no loss of life of property due to floods.