Yamuna river rises: Khattar calls emergency meeting

Team Udayavani, Jul 30, 2018, 9:49 AM IST

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today held an emergency meeting with senior officials in the wake of rising level of Yamuna river due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, and directed them to stay alert to deal with any untoward situation. 

He also conducted an aerial survey of the Hathnikund barrage located on Yamuna river in Yamunanagar district. The minister was told that 6,05,949 cusecs of water flowing from the Hathnikund barrage was passing through Karnal and would reach Delhi by tomorrow.  With Yamuna flowing close to the danger mark, several villages were flooded leading to crop losses, officials said. 

In some villages in Yamunanagar district, the flood waters entered ouses and buildings. The administration has deployed boats at various places for people to commute from one village to other and to evacuate them, if the water level rises further, they said.

The water level rose in the wake of continuous rains in catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh. Khattar sought information on the water level from the deputy commissioners of Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat and Palwal, and other officers through video-conferencing. He also reviewed the arrangements made by them, an official spokesperson said here.

The officers informed the chief minister that 6,05,949 cusecs of water was flowing from the Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar till 6 pm yesterday. Earlier in 2010, 8.05 lakh cusecs of water passed through this barrage, and in 2013, 7.5 lakh cusecs had passed, they said. “The 6,05,949 cusecs of water flowing from the barrage is passing through Karnal and would reach Delhi by tomorrow. It is gathered that water is flowing at a speed of four kilometers per hour. 

“Canals in Haryana are closed when the water level crosses 70,000 cusecs at Hathnikund Barrage, and the water is passing through 18 doors,” the spokesperson said. The Karnal deputy commissioner informed the chief minister that about six lakh cusecs of water was passing from Hathnikund barrage last evening, and its effect could be seen later during the day. The officers said the water level was gradually decreasing.

A sub-divisional officer and three junior engineers have been deputed at every 20 kilometers in Karnal. Heavy earth moving machines and 20,000 sand bags have been kept ready to deal with any untoward situation. Arrangements have also been made for evacuating people to safer places as the situation demands, the officers added. The officers of Yamunanagar district administration informed the chief minister that 1.18 lakh cusecs of water was flowing in Yamuna river. 

Medical teams have been arranged and officers of the animal husbandry department have been alerted to deal with the flood-like situation, the officers said. The officers of Panipat district said Yamuna river passed through 14 villages of the district, adding that Army has visited and checked the areas adjoining the river.

The Sonipat district administration informed Khattar that the water of Yamuna was flowing one kilometer away from Asadpur village where officers of the irrigation department have been deputed. An SDM-level officer has been made in-charge to keep a check on the situation. Also, arrangements of sand bags, JCB machines and other machinery have been made, they said. 

The administration has also issued a warning to people living in the areas surrounding Yamuna river. A team of State Disaster Management force has already been put on alert. A flood control room has been set up at the district level for fast response to deal with any flood-like situation, the officials said.

The chief minister directed the officers that the administration in the vulnerable districts should remain ready to deal with diseases which may break out after the water level of Yamuna recedes. The officers should ensure that fogging is done in the affected areas from time to time, he added.

After holding a meeting with officials here, Khattar said ‘special girdawari’ (revenue survey) would be conducted to assess the damage to the crops caused by floods and rains. He added that due compensation would be given to the affected farmers.