Yamuna level dips, floodwater recedes, but rain brings woes

According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) forecast, the water level of the Yamuna was set to dip to 206.4 metres by 10 am on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Safdarjung weather station in Southeast Delhi, that serves as a marker for the city, recorded 12.8 mm of rainfall between 5.30 pm and 8.30 pm; the observatory at Pusa in West Delhi recorded 29.5 mm; and Mayur Vihar in East Delhi recorded 6 mm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall on Sunday and Monday as well.

Government sources said the malfunctioning drain regulator, near the WHO Building, which had caused the reverse flow of water from the river, submerging several areas of the city, was in the process of being repaired.

The Army’s Corps of Engineers had been roped in to repair the embankment near the malfunctioning drain regulator, where a breach had caused the Yamuna water to gush into the drain, damaging its regulator.

Water supply was disrupted in several parts of the city as the two water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal remained shut. Several parts of North and Central Delhi, which receive supply from these two plants, were affected, including Narela, Burari, Timarpur, Adarsh Nagar, Badli, Model Town, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar and Rajender Nagar.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said water was being cleared from the Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants, and the machines need to be dried out. He said it may be possible to resume functioning of the two plants on Sunday. The DJB said it expected the Chandrawal and Wazirabad pump houses to start functioning by Sunday evening.

Following a cabinet meeting, Kejriwal deputed each of his ministerial colleagues to oversee relief and rehabilitation work in flood-affected areas in southeast, east, northeast, north and central Delhi in addition to Shahdara.

Meanwhile, the AAP and BJP engaged in a blame game over the flood situation. Accusing the bureaucratic administration of negligence, the AAP government sought action for alleged insubordination and “allowing the flooding of sensitive VIP parts of the city” as part of a conspiracy. Both the BJP and the bureaucracy hit back.

“For the last six days, there has been no rain. So why is Delhi getting flooded? The BJP-ruled central government and the Haryana government are trying their best to ensure that there is a flood situation in Delhi,” Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged. He alleged that water was released from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana and “allowed to flow only towards Delhi.”

Bharadwaj also wrote to Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, seeking strict action against Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, and Principal Secretary (Irrigation and Flood Control) Ashish Kundra for allegedly disregarding his government’s instructions to call in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as soon as the drain regulator malfunctioned on Thursday evening.

Ashwani Kumar accused the AAP dispensation of politicising the issue. “All our field officers, from across departments including the district administration and the police, have been working day and night to confront the situation… Levelling allegations in the middle of such a situation, and against officials who are working day and night, is unfortunate,” he said.

Targeting the AAP, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said: “Delhi has been hit by floods and the citizens here are facing inconvenience as water has accumulated at many locations. In such a situation, the central government, Indian Army, L-G’s office and NDRF teams are working day and night to serve the public, while on the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal’s government and his ministers are busy making allegations.”

Delhi LG VK Saxena said Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to take stock of the situation in Delhi after landing from the UAE.

Saxena said the PM “took a detailed account of the flood situation in Delhi as well as complete information about the related efforts being made.”

He added that the Prime Minister had reiterated instructions to “do all possible work in the interest of the people of Delhi with the help and cooperation of the Centre.”