Yamuna is drying in early February, how it will impact you?

In early February, the Yamuna river in several parts of the Capital faced a water crisis due to decreased water levels caused by a shortage of rainfall.

The Yamuna is a major source of water for the capital city of Delhi and its surrounding regions, but the river's water level had fallen to a critical low, leading to concerns about water scarcity and disruptions in the water supply.

According to Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the water level in the Yamuna river has fallen to 671.7 feet, almost 2.8 feet below the standard level of 674.5 ft at the Wazirabad barrage.

The water levels in the river began to decrease on February 25, when the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) issued the first alert.

The low water levels have hit production at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants, which cover parts of north, south, and central Delhi. Almost a quarter of Delhi's daily water supply, over 230 MGD (million gallons per day), is supplied by these two plants.

The plants are now working at low efficiency, and water supply is being affected in several areas, including Civil lines, Kamala Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, New Rajinder Nagar, Patel Nagar, Kalkaji, Govindpuri, Tughlakabad, Sangam Vihar, and Ambedkar Nagar.

Yamuna water crisis Reasons

• Low rainfall: The Yamuna river relies heavily on rainfall to maintain its water levels. In the months leading up to February, there was lower-than-average rainfall in the region, which contributed to a decrease in the water levels of the river.

• High demand: The demand for water in the National Capital Region (NCR) has been steadily increasing due to population growth and urbanization. This increased demand, coupled with low water levels in the river, led to a water crisis in February.

• Pollution: The Yamuna river is heavily polluted due to industrial waste and untreated sewage being dumped into the river. This pollution reduces the amount of water that can be used for drinking and other purposes, further exacerbating the water crisis.

• Climate change: Climate change is causing more extreme weather events, such as droughts and heatwaves, which can lead to water shortages. The impact of climate change on the Yamuna river cannot be ignored as it also affects the flow of the river.

How Yamuna water crisis will impact you?

The Yamuna River is one of the most important rivers in India, serving as a source of water for millions of people in the country.

However, due to various factors such as climate change, pollution, and overuse, the river has been drying up in recent years.

The impacts of this drying on people are significant and far-reaching. Here are some of the ways in which the drying of the Yamuna River could impact people:

• Water scarcity: As the river dries up, the availability of water for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes will decrease, leading to water scarcity in the region. This could have a significant impact on agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood for many people in the region.

• Health problems: The drying of the Yamuna River could lead to the spread of water-borne diseases, as the reduced water flow could increase the concentration of pollutants in the remaining water. This could lead to an increase in the incidence of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea.

Supply likely to be hit in parts of Delhi

Kamla Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, Rajinder Nagar, East and West Patel Nagar, Inderpuri, Kalkaji, Govindpuri, Sangam Vihar, Tughlaqabad, Sangam Vihar, Model Town, Punjabi Bagh, Jahangirpuri, Moolchand, South Extension, parts of the Cantonment, Greater Kailash, Burari, Ambedkar Nagar, Prahladpur.

Other areas which will be affected are Ramleela Ground, Delhi gate, Subhash Park, Model Town, Gulabi Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Jahangirpuri, Moolchand, South Extn., Greater kailash, Burari and adjoining areas; Parts of Cantonment areas and South Delhi

The board also shared helpline numbers for the areas concerned.

Helpline numbers

Central Control Room: 1916, 23527679, 23634469

For Water Emergency:

• Chandrawal WW no.02: 23810930

• Idgah: 23537397, 23677129

• Rajinder Nagar: 28742340

• Jal Sadan: 29819035, 29824550

• Gole Market: 23362949

• Greater Kailash: 29234746, 29234747

• Punjabi Bagh: 25223658

• Burari: 27619244, 27617609

• I.P.Station: 23370911, 23378761

• Mandir Marg: 2336351

• Kewal Park: 27677877, 27681578

Keep Reading

• Water crisis in Delhi: Explained
• How much waste water being reused in Delhi?
• Water supply in Delhi to be affected; check full list of areas here
• 10 Indian cities facing water scarcity in 2023

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