No immediate threat of floods in state

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

There is no immediate threat of floods in Haryana as the discharge of water to several reservoirs in the state during the past few days has been much below the danger level.

Sources said the discharge of rainwater from two major rivers — the Yamuna and the Ghaggar — known for causing floods in the state in the past, has been “too low” to cause floods immediately. The inundating of several parts of the state, including fields, is largely to be blamed on the “localised” rainfall, the sources said.

This, coupled with the prediction of the Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh, of mostly dry weather with the possibility of isolated rain or thundershowers during next 48 to 72 hours, has receded the prospects of floods in the next few days.

The Daily Flood Situation Report prepared by the Irrigation and Water Resources Department showed water discharge to the Hathni Kund Barrage/Tajewala (upstream) from the Yamuna was just 25,433 cusecs today morning as against danger level of 2.5 lakh cusecs. Last evening (Sunday), it was 30,772 cusecs.

The water discharge to the Hathni Kund Barrage/Tajewala (downstream) today morning was 14,431 cusecs as against the danger level of 2.5 lakh cusecs. It was pegged at 18,770 cusecs yesterday evening.

Similarly, discharge of water from the Ghaggar to the Panchkula bridge site (Panchkula-Nada Sahib road bridge) was 1,056 cusecs today morning as against the danger level of 1.27 lakh cusecs. It was 1,056 cusecs yesterday evening.

On the Chandigarh-Ambala road crossing, the discharge of water was 1,208 cusecs today morning, while it was 1,597 cusecs yesterday evening. The danger level at this site is 1.91 lakh cusecs.

At Guhla Cheeka, the discharge from the Ghaggar was higher at 33,886 cusecs as against the danger level of 51,733 cusecs today morning. It was 17,248 cusecs last evening. The floods in Haryana occur because of its physiographic situation which makes a depressional saucer shape zone around the Delhi-Rohtak-Hisar-Sirsa axis, poor natural drainage system and incessant rainfall.

Officials said about 23.5 lakh hectares are prone to floods in Haryana. According to Haryana Flood Manual, there are 102 vulnerable points in Haryana which need special attention during the monsoon.