Neha Lalchandani, TNN | 28 September 2011, 02.17AM IST
NEW DELHI: Another proposal to usurp a substantial part of the Yamuna floodplain has raised the hackles of environmentalists. An RTI query has revealed Noida Authority's plans of building an embankment on the left bank of the Yamuna, stretching from NH-24 to the Chilla Regulator. While the proposal to the Yamuna Standing Committee claimed it is a flood control measure, senior officials of the authority accept that it is only a bid to reclaim land.
Interestingly, the authority has not even decided what to do with the over 15-lakh sqm land that it will gain through this. "It will take about three years for the embankment to come up and only then will we decide how to use the land. Flood control measures are not required as the Noida link road serves that purpose. The project is under consideration," said a senior official. He was unable to explain why the authority is eyeing the land even though it has no use for it at present.
The proposal was mooted by the UP government in August 2008 and sent to the Yamuna Standing Committee in 2009. The committee cleared it conditionally, asking the government to ensure that all required environmental clearances were obtained before work started. The authority has already marked the area on ground using poles and barbed wire.
"It was by sheer chance that we learnt about the project. We first managed to access the minutes of the YSC meetings through RTI and then applied once more to get details of the project. The LG has been apprised of the situation and we hope some action will be taken," said Manoj Mishra of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan.
The project report states that the length of the embankment would be about 4km, stretching from 280m at NH-24 to 660m at the Chilla Regulator in width. The embankment will be 6m high with a 6m width on top and about 40m wide base. "The project is worth Rs 92.1 crore. The area under consideration is the only relatively secure floodplain we have in Delhi and it is highly important for groundwater regeneration. In the 2010 floods, there was 3-4m water in the area. The right side of the river has already been concretized under Commonwealth Games Village and the Akshardham Temple. This will be the death of the river," added Mishra.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Flood alert sounded in Bihar (Hindu 27 September 2011)
Making merry: Children playing in the water-logged Gandhi Maidan after heavy rain that lashed Patna on Monday. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar
An alert was sounded on Monday as the overall flood situation in Bihar worsened following heavy rain in the catchment areas of the rivers and the discharge of water from two dams in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the State Water Resources and Disaster Management departments to be on high alert and intensify relief and rescue operations.
Following discharge of 9.50 lakh cusec of water from the Bansagar dam in Madhya Pradesh and the Rihand dam in Uttar Pradesh into the Sone during the past 48 hours several villages of Rohtas, Arwal, Patna, Aurangabad and Bhojpur districts were inundated, official sources said.
The water discharge from Bansagar on Sunday was recorded at 9.58 lakh cusec, the highest ever since 1975, forcing the State government to send letters to Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand governments registering its protest over erratic discharge to the Sone.
In view of the worsened flood situation, the government has cancelled leave of all engineers till October 15 and postponed the State-level meeting of the chief engineers scheduled on September 29 and 30 to October 15 and 16.
The government has also sounded alert in Vaishali, Chapra, Samastipur, Katihar and Bhagalpur districts as the water level of the Ganga is rising due to heavy discharge into the Sone which culminates in the Ganga near Haldi-Chapra.
Heavy downpour in the catchments areas of the Sone led to the collapse of several mud houses in Rohtas.
Rohit Kumar (8) was killed and his sister Gudia (6) critically injured when their mud house collapsed at village Jamuna-Nawadih under Rohtas block on Sunday, sources said.
The government has taken up immediate relief and rescue operations and pressed into service a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rescue the marooned people.
Reports said the NDRF team reached Rohtas to rescue villagers stranded on small islands in the Sone area.
An alert was sounded on Monday as the overall flood situation in Bihar worsened following heavy rain in the catchment areas of the rivers and the discharge of water from two dams in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the State Water Resources and Disaster Management departments to be on high alert and intensify relief and rescue operations.
Following discharge of 9.50 lakh cusec of water from the Bansagar dam in Madhya Pradesh and the Rihand dam in Uttar Pradesh into the Sone during the past 48 hours several villages of Rohtas, Arwal, Patna, Aurangabad and Bhojpur districts were inundated, official sources said.
The water discharge from Bansagar on Sunday was recorded at 9.58 lakh cusec, the highest ever since 1975, forcing the State government to send letters to Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand governments registering its protest over erratic discharge to the Sone.
In view of the worsened flood situation, the government has cancelled leave of all engineers till October 15 and postponed the State-level meeting of the chief engineers scheduled on September 29 and 30 to October 15 and 16.
The government has also sounded alert in Vaishali, Chapra, Samastipur, Katihar and Bhagalpur districts as the water level of the Ganga is rising due to heavy discharge into the Sone which culminates in the Ganga near Haldi-Chapra.
Heavy downpour in the catchments areas of the Sone led to the collapse of several mud houses in Rohtas.
Rohit Kumar (8) was killed and his sister Gudia (6) critically injured when their mud house collapsed at village Jamuna-Nawadih under Rohtas block on Sunday, sources said.
The government has taken up immediate relief and rescue operations and pressed into service a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rescue the marooned people.
Reports said the NDRF team reached Rohtas to rescue villagers stranded on small islands in the Sone area.
Nitish reviews Bihar flood situation (Hindu 26 September 2011)
No respite: Vehicles trudging through a waterlogged road after heavy rain lashed Patna on Sunday. -Photo: Ranjeet Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday reviewed the flood situation in several districts, with rivers Sone and Ganga in spate after release of over nine lakh cusecs from Indrapuri barrage.
The Chief Minister, who spoke to the district officials of Rohtas, Aurangabad, Arwal, Bhojpur, Saran, Patna, Munger and Bhagalpur, directed them to issue alert and warn people about the flood situation.
Kumar also held a review meeting with the Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Chief Secretary Anup Mukherjee, WRD Principal Secretary Afzal Amanullah and Disaster Management Principal Secretary Vyasji.
He urged the officials to constantly monitor the situation and carry out rescue and relief works as required.
The meetings took place in the backdrop of 9.58 lakh cusecs of water, the highest since 1975, being discharged from Indrapuri barrage this morning.
While the water level in Sone river has abated from this afternoon bringing respite to the central districts, the surging Ganga water flooded Haldichapra and moved downstream to Digha and Gandhighat at Patna on way to Hathidah, Munger, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon, official sources said.
The Punpun river too was in spate and flowing 1.93 meters above danger mark due to incessant rains since the past three-four days, they said.
In view of the sitution, the WRD minister has cancelled the leaves of the engineers till October 15 next and postponed the State-level meeting of the WRD engineers that was scheduled to be held in Patna on September 29-30, the sources added.
The Minister said he will write letters to his counterparts in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand saying they had given wrong information to Bihar about release of water from their dams/barrages. “The authorities in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand discharge more water during floods than the quantum intimated to Bihar, while during drought situation, the release of water was less than promised for irrigation,” he alleged. This led to a piquant situation for the State government in management of water resources, the Minister said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday reviewed the flood situation in several districts, with rivers Sone and Ganga in spate after release of over nine lakh cusecs from Indrapuri barrage.
The Chief Minister, who spoke to the district officials of Rohtas, Aurangabad, Arwal, Bhojpur, Saran, Patna, Munger and Bhagalpur, directed them to issue alert and warn people about the flood situation.
Kumar also held a review meeting with the Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Chief Secretary Anup Mukherjee, WRD Principal Secretary Afzal Amanullah and Disaster Management Principal Secretary Vyasji.
He urged the officials to constantly monitor the situation and carry out rescue and relief works as required.
The meetings took place in the backdrop of 9.58 lakh cusecs of water, the highest since 1975, being discharged from Indrapuri barrage this morning.
While the water level in Sone river has abated from this afternoon bringing respite to the central districts, the surging Ganga water flooded Haldichapra and moved downstream to Digha and Gandhighat at Patna on way to Hathidah, Munger, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon, official sources said.
The Punpun river too was in spate and flowing 1.93 meters above danger mark due to incessant rains since the past three-four days, they said.
In view of the sitution, the WRD minister has cancelled the leaves of the engineers till October 15 next and postponed the State-level meeting of the WRD engineers that was scheduled to be held in Patna on September 29-30, the sources added.
The Minister said he will write letters to his counterparts in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand saying they had given wrong information to Bihar about release of water from their dams/barrages. “The authorities in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand discharge more water during floods than the quantum intimated to Bihar, while during drought situation, the release of water was less than promised for irrigation,” he alleged. This led to a piquant situation for the State government in management of water resources, the Minister said.
Water under the bridge
Water under the bridge
Manoj Misra, Hindustan Times
September 25, 2011
India has officially been ‘battling’ floods in its rivers since 1954. This is manifested in the construction of multipurpose dams over rivers with flood control as one of their ‘multiple’ roles. The raising of embankments to keep flood waters away along some 33,000 km of India’s river banks is also a prime example of this ongoing ‘battle’.
And yet, according to the World Bank, over the past 50 years, flood-affected areas in India have almost doubled from a mere 5% to about 12%. Is there an explanation for this progressively ‘losing’ war?
Nature doesn’t indulge in wars. Humans do. Our rivers flood every monsoon, especially during a good monsoon, something every farmer prays for.
High rainfall naturally results in flooded streams and rivers spreading over their plains as flood waters race downstream to the seas. Can there be anything more natural than this?
This is akin to a ‘cold wave’ during winter or a ‘hot wave’ in summer. If a cold wave or a hot wave is endured by humans and never spoken of in terms of their being ‘natural disasters’, why are river floods thought of in those terms and grand plans made to ‘combat’ them?
That we continue — and shall continue — to fail in this meaningless combat has once again been brought home in a telling manner by the recent Mahanadi floods in Odisha.
The ‘multipurpose’ dam over river Mahanadi at Hirakud stands as one of the first such dams created in independent India. Many experts now wonder if the dam has actually worsened, rather than helped, the flood situation in the state.
In monsoonal India, we must first understand floods in rivers and then prepare ourselves through non-structural ways and methods to remain safe.
The first of these measures is improved and state-of-the-art flood forecasting. Monitoring methods through the use of technological props like satellite imageries and climate watch techniques are necessary.
It is a matter of satisfaction that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is quite up-to-date on these technologies.
Second, legislative measures can secure the flood plains against rampant encroachment by vested interests of all kinds. The River Regulation Zone (RRZ) notification by the ministry of environment and forests is yet to see the light of day.
Third, the natural drainage systems in different parts of the country — badly truncated or mutilated by the building of roads, highways and railways with little regard to the natural path that flood waters have traced over the ages — must be restored. The situation is further confounded by the relentless urbanisation seen in recent times.
For example, the manner in which the city of Delhi is flooded by a few hours of rainfall is a testimony to the results of an utter disregard by the city planners for the city’s natural drainage system.
Can any Mumbaikar forget July 25, 2005, when almost the entire city went under floodwaters with natural drains built upon or lost?
So, shall we let our rivers and their flood plains be? Shall we let the natural drainage systems created by the flowing water over the years be respected and restored?
Shall we utilise the advantages of the latest advancements in climate prediction and flood forecasting, communicating them far and wide for people in vulnerable sites to move to safe locations?
An affirmative on all those questions would make for less misery during the monsoons.
(Manoj Misra, is the convener of the Delhi-based Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. The views expressed by the author are personal)
Manoj Misra, Hindustan Times
September 25, 2011
India has officially been ‘battling’ floods in its rivers since 1954. This is manifested in the construction of multipurpose dams over rivers with flood control as one of their ‘multiple’ roles. The raising of embankments to keep flood waters away along some 33,000 km of India’s river banks is also a prime example of this ongoing ‘battle’.
And yet, according to the World Bank, over the past 50 years, flood-affected areas in India have almost doubled from a mere 5% to about 12%. Is there an explanation for this progressively ‘losing’ war?
Nature doesn’t indulge in wars. Humans do. Our rivers flood every monsoon, especially during a good monsoon, something every farmer prays for.
High rainfall naturally results in flooded streams and rivers spreading over their plains as flood waters race downstream to the seas. Can there be anything more natural than this?
This is akin to a ‘cold wave’ during winter or a ‘hot wave’ in summer. If a cold wave or a hot wave is endured by humans and never spoken of in terms of their being ‘natural disasters’, why are river floods thought of in those terms and grand plans made to ‘combat’ them?
That we continue — and shall continue — to fail in this meaningless combat has once again been brought home in a telling manner by the recent Mahanadi floods in Odisha.
The ‘multipurpose’ dam over river Mahanadi at Hirakud stands as one of the first such dams created in independent India. Many experts now wonder if the dam has actually worsened, rather than helped, the flood situation in the state.
In monsoonal India, we must first understand floods in rivers and then prepare ourselves through non-structural ways and methods to remain safe.
The first of these measures is improved and state-of-the-art flood forecasting. Monitoring methods through the use of technological props like satellite imageries and climate watch techniques are necessary.
It is a matter of satisfaction that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is quite up-to-date on these technologies.
Second, legislative measures can secure the flood plains against rampant encroachment by vested interests of all kinds. The River Regulation Zone (RRZ) notification by the ministry of environment and forests is yet to see the light of day.
Third, the natural drainage systems in different parts of the country — badly truncated or mutilated by the building of roads, highways and railways with little regard to the natural path that flood waters have traced over the ages — must be restored. The situation is further confounded by the relentless urbanisation seen in recent times.
For example, the manner in which the city of Delhi is flooded by a few hours of rainfall is a testimony to the results of an utter disregard by the city planners for the city’s natural drainage system.
Can any Mumbaikar forget July 25, 2005, when almost the entire city went under floodwaters with natural drains built upon or lost?
So, shall we let our rivers and their flood plains be? Shall we let the natural drainage systems created by the flowing water over the years be respected and restored?
Shall we utilise the advantages of the latest advancements in climate prediction and flood forecasting, communicating them far and wide for people in vulnerable sites to move to safe locations?
An affirmative on all those questions would make for less misery during the monsoons.
(Manoj Misra, is the convener of the Delhi-based Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. The views expressed by the author are personal)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Supreme Court reserves verdict on Ghaggar river bundh (The Hindu 20 September 2011)
Punjab says flooding due to bundh will be grave “nuisance”
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its verdict on Punjab's application to restrain Haryana from strengthening the Ghaggar river bundh . Punjab filed this application in its main suit opposing construction of the Hansi-Butana canal.
A Bench of Justice J. M. Panchal and Justice H. L. Gokhale reserved the verdict at the end of arguments from counsel for both parties. Senior counsel Harish Salve and senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan appearing for Punjab strongly opposed the work on the bundh , contending that such a construction would prevent natural flow of flood waters and result in drowning of 70 of Punjab's villages under eight feet of water.
They questioned Haryana's unilateral action in strengthening the bundh and said it was in violation of cooperative federalism. They argued that strengthening the bundh to save Haryana from flooding would be a grave “nuisance” to Punjab.
However, senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam appearing for Haryana said Punjab's fears were misplaced and its application was misconceived as it had nothing to do with the main suit objecting to the construction of the Hansi-Butana canal. While Haryana cited a Central Water Commission report that said the work would not pose any problem for Punjab, the latter argued that the CWC report was not acceptable to it.
During an earlier hearing, Haryana had argued that Punjab should make better use of the Mirapur drain to deal with flooding in the monsoon. Haryana said the 3.5-km-long toe-wall along the bundh was below the surface and as such would not push back the flood waters to the surface.
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its verdict on Punjab's application to restrain Haryana from strengthening the Ghaggar river bundh . Punjab filed this application in its main suit opposing construction of the Hansi-Butana canal.
A Bench of Justice J. M. Panchal and Justice H. L. Gokhale reserved the verdict at the end of arguments from counsel for both parties. Senior counsel Harish Salve and senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan appearing for Punjab strongly opposed the work on the bundh , contending that such a construction would prevent natural flow of flood waters and result in drowning of 70 of Punjab's villages under eight feet of water.
They questioned Haryana's unilateral action in strengthening the bundh and said it was in violation of cooperative federalism. They argued that strengthening the bundh to save Haryana from flooding would be a grave “nuisance” to Punjab.
However, senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam appearing for Haryana said Punjab's fears were misplaced and its application was misconceived as it had nothing to do with the main suit objecting to the construction of the Hansi-Butana canal. While Haryana cited a Central Water Commission report that said the work would not pose any problem for Punjab, the latter argued that the CWC report was not acceptable to it.
During an earlier hearing, Haryana had argued that Punjab should make better use of the Mirapur drain to deal with flooding in the monsoon. Haryana said the 3.5-km-long toe-wall along the bundh was below the surface and as such would not push back the flood waters to the surface.
No clearance for Yamuna bridges: NGO (Times of India 20 September 2011)
New Delhi: More projects of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation are meeting with resistance from environmentalists.The Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan has lodged a complaint with the lieutenant-governor against two bridges that DMRC has proposed over the Yamuna.It has alleged that though tenders have been invited for the projects,no formal clearance has even been applied for.
The plans for both bridges,one downstream of the Nizamuddin bridge and the other downstream of the Okhla barrage,are irregular and illegal.Any new bridge on the Yamuna requires prior approval from the Yamuna Standing Committee,Delhi Urban Art Commission,Delhi Development Authority and the Yamuna River Development Authority.The bridges find no mention in the zonal plan for zone O and if they are to come up,at least a modification in plans is necessary.We are not against the bridges but want that DMRC does not circumvent the rules, said Manoj Mishra,convener,YJA.
Metro officials said the plans had been submitted to the Central Water Research Station (CWRS) in Pune,which will submit its recommendations to the standing committee (YSC).DDA is a member of YSC and if needed,we will apply to the Delhi Urban Art Commission.The projects were tendered before approval to fast-track the process.No plan has been finalized, said an official.
But sources say the tender contains details of the project and DMRC should have first approached YSC for approval.
The plans for both bridges,one downstream of the Nizamuddin bridge and the other downstream of the Okhla barrage,are irregular and illegal.Any new bridge on the Yamuna requires prior approval from the Yamuna Standing Committee,Delhi Urban Art Commission,Delhi Development Authority and the Yamuna River Development Authority.The bridges find no mention in the zonal plan for zone O and if they are to come up,at least a modification in plans is necessary.We are not against the bridges but want that DMRC does not circumvent the rules, said Manoj Mishra,convener,YJA.
Metro officials said the plans had been submitted to the Central Water Research Station (CWRS) in Pune,which will submit its recommendations to the standing committee (YSC).DDA is a member of YSC and if needed,we will apply to the Delhi Urban Art Commission.The projects were tendered before approval to fast-track the process.No plan has been finalized, said an official.
But sources say the tender contains details of the project and DMRC should have first approached YSC for approval.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
अधर में कालिंदी बाईपास (Dainik Jagran 17 September 2011)
कालिंदी बाईपास योजना का निर्माण पिछले पांच वर्षो से रुका पड़ा होना निश्चित ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। इस योजना पर 52 करोड़ रुपये खर्च हो जाने के बाद अब इसके अधर में लटक जाने से न सिर्फ इतनी बड़ी धनराशि बेकार गई है, अपितु इससे लाभ मिलने की उम्मीद कर रहे लोगों को घोर निराशा भी हुई है। यह योजना लोक निर्माण विभाग की महत्वाकांक्षी परियोजना थी। योजना को लेकर एक ऐसी परिकल्पना की गई थी कि जिन लोगों को दिल्ली से बाहर आगरा की तरफ जाना होता या उधर से आना होता तो लोग हरियाणा के बल्लभगढ़ से पल्ला, मीठापुर, कालिंदीकुंज होते हुए सीधे आइटीओ तक आ-जा सकते। इसका प्रमुख उद्देश्य दिल्ली से आगरा के बीच लगने वाले समय को कम किया जाना था। इसके तैयार हो जाने से आश्रम से बदरपुर तक जाने में भी अपेक्षाकृत कम समय लगता। साथ ही फरीदाबाद जाने के रास्ते में आइटीओ से बदरपुर तक लगने वाले जाम में वाहन चालकों को नहीं जूझना पड़ता और उनके समय व ईंधन दोनों की बचत के साथ ही प्रदूषण भी कम होता। लेकिन 62 करोड़ रुपये की अनुमानित लागत के साथ वर्ष 2003 में शुरू की गई इस योजना पर 2006 में कार्य बंद हो गया। इस दौरान सिर्फ 2.8 किलोमीटर की दूरी तक मिट्टी डालने का ही कार्य हुआ। अब हालात यह हैं कि जहां एक ओर यमुना के सौ मीटर के दायरे में निर्माण पर अदालती रोक है, वहीं जसोला के पास करीब डेढ़ किलोमीटर के हिस्से को लेकर उत्तर प्रदेश के सिंचाई विभाग और दिल्ली विकास प्राधिकरण के बीच विवाद है। परियोजना के प्रथम चरण का कुछ भाग ओखला पक्षी विहार से होकर गुजरना है, जिस पर उत्तर प्रदेश का वन विभाग राजी नहीं है और यूपी सरकार परियोजना को सिंचाई विभाग की कॉलोनी व वीआइपी गेस्ट हाउस के नजदीक से गुजरने देने के लिए भी तैयार नहीं है। विभाग अब पूरी योजना को एलीवेटेड बनाने की सोच रहा है, जिसके लिए नए सिरे से कार्य करने के उद्देश्य से कंसल्टेंट की खोज की जा रही है। परियोजना से होने वाले लाभ को देखते हुए यह काफी महत्वपूर्ण है, लिहाजा इसे तैयार करने के लिए पूरी इच्छाशक्ति से प्रयास किए जाने चाहिए। विभाग को चाहिए कि वह योजना के मार्ग में आने वाली सभी रुकावटों को फौरन दूर कर इसका निर्माण कार्य जल्द से जल्द शुरू कराए।
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