After Yamuna scare, city govt clears 27 proposals

Focus on drains, anti-erosion systems

Delhi government’s flood control board on Monday passed 27 new proposals amounting to Rs 62 crore to strengthen embankments, improve drainage system, construct access roads and bridges and carry out anti-erosion works in the Yamuna.

Dr A K Walia, Delhi’s irrigation and flood control minister, said that a total of 11 new bridges will be constructed at various drains in different locations of the city. “The government will carry out construction of access roads and bridges amounting to Rs 40.25 crores,” he said.

Around Rs 5 crore each will be pumped into construction of major drains and smaller drains. While Rs 1.37 crore has been allotted for strengthening of embankments, checking of erosion in the river bed will cost Rs around Rs four crore.

Sensing encroachment on government land in various parts of the city, the government has also decided to build boundary walls at different places at a cost of Rs 6.5 crore, with the longest wall expected to be 3.5 km long.

Since the ASI-protected Mughal Bridge across old course of Najafgarh drain is in a deteriorating condition, a bridge will be constructed parallel to it. “Since a number of colonies have developed adjoining the Wazirabad bridge, a double-lane bridge across old course of Najafgarh drain will be constructed at a cost of Rs five crore,” said Walia.
Moreover, four bridges at Bawana drain will be demolished and reconstructed at a cost of Rs 2.56 crore.

The government will also be taking steps to carry out river protection works to avoid erosion and check erosion in the Yamuna river bed. Because of floods, the active flow of Yamuna river has shifted at various locations.

The government will be making necessary constructions as places where there has been an active shifting of the river.

The minister also directed the department officers to keep an eye on the situation caused by the recent record discharge of water in the Yamuna.