Yamuna level plummets; hydel projects, drinking water supply hit
The water level of the Yamuna has significantly decreased due to lack of rain in the upper hills of Himachal Pradesh, causing a severe shortfall in water supply in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Critical importance of Yamuna water
- Supplies drinking water to Delhi and irrigates southern Haryana
- Caters to Uttar Pradesh’s irrigation and drinking needs
- Four hydel projects rely on the consistent flow of Yamuna water
At Hathnikund Barrage, the water level was recorded at 1,142 cusecs at 3 pm on Monday, rising slightly to 2,290 cusecs by 11 am on Tuesday. However, the current supply is far below the demand, affecting irrigation, drinking water supply and hydropower generation.
The demand for water in the Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) stands at 9,000 cusecs, but only 1,756 cusecs were released at 11 am on Tuesday. The WJC supplies drinking water to Delhi and irrigates crops in parts of southern Haryana. The shortfall has severely impacted these critical uses.
Similarly, the Eastern Jamuna Canal (EJC), which serves Uttar Pradesh, faced a demand of 1,500 cusecs but received only 182 cusecs at 11 am on Tuesday. Due to the water scarcity, supply in the EJC was stopped from 3 pm to 8 pm on Monday when the river’s flow dipped to 1,142 cusecs.
The shortfall in Yamuna’s water supply has also affected hydel projects in Naino Wali, Bhudkalan, Begampur nd Dadupur villages. The projects in Naino Wali, Bhudkalan and Begampur are government-run, while a private hydel project operates in Dadupur.
“Water levels in the Yamuna typically start declining in November and increase again in March,” said Vijay Garg, executive engineer of the Water Services Division, Dadupur. “This decrease is caused by the lack of rain in the winter season in the upper hills of Himachal Pradesh. The reduced water availability directly impacts supply to the WJC and the EJC.”
