The proposal to divert 500 cusecs of water from the Ganges to the Yamuna, which was transferred last year as part of the Centre-monitored project to rejuvenate the Yamuna, faces major hurdles in terms of feasibility and is likely to remain in cold storage, according to a senior Delhi government official.
The senior government official, who requested anonymity, said the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has informed that the diversion plan is not feasible at the present stage as many areas between the East Yamuna Canal and Delhi are in very poor condition and will not be able to carry water, besides shortage of raw water in the Ganges river system during the lean season in summer.
Why the plan may not come to fruition
“The Ganga system does not have additional water. The canal system has been damaged at various locations and will not be able to transport this water to Delhi anytime soon. We do not consider it as part of environmental flow improvement projects in the short term. The project may be revived in later years, but at the present stage, it seems to be in cold storage,” the official explained.
Another government official, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the focus will now remain on projects approved by the National Ganges Cleaning Mission to set up a dedicated transportation system to transport highly treated sewage from the Coronation Pillar and Yamuna Vihar to Wazirabad.
“UP is not ready to provide this additional water. Our efforts will now focus on inland projects like Okhla, Coronation Pillar and Yamuna Vihar,” the official said. We will continue to try to source additional raw water from UP for treated wastewater as well.”
Yamuna water quality
The water quality of the Yamuna River deteriorates sharply at the mouth of Wazirabad, as untreated sewage and industrial waste enter the river. Experts and agencies like the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Environment Department have pegged this requirement for the Yamuna River at 23 cubic meters per second (cumec), but current flows hover around 10 cumec.
The 22-km stretch of the Yamuna River in Delhi, from Wazirabad Barrage to Okhla Barrage, represents less than 2% of the total length of the river, but accounts for nearly 76% of the total pollution in the river, the Yamuna Monitoring Committee report noted.
Citing the action plan approved by the Central government, HT had reported last year that the agencies had proposed using a series of stormwater drains and nullah canals to make these diversions upstream of Wazirabad, after which the Yamuna would become severely polluted.
The proposed intervention stipulates that about 500 cusecs of water should be diverted from Roorkee to the East Yamuna Canal through the Deoband feeder branch. An additional 500 cusecs of water was expected to be added to the Yamuna River at three points. The first diversion is near Bhaisawala via Katha Nala (storm water drain).
A second diversion worth 350 cusecs will be made in Baraut via Baraut stormwater drain. The third transfer of 100 kosiks was at Jawali near Loni, which was to eventually end up near Wazirabad. The plan stated that the water would flow through the Yamuna River, and after passing through Delhi, it would be lifted again through the Agra Canal. The only condition was that DJB would not use this additional water for its own use. Otherwise it would defeat the entire purpose.
