Delhi govt sets up 24×7 flood control cell to avoid ‘any possibility of flooding’

A 24-hour flood control room, which will monitor real-time data from the Hathnikund dam, has been set up by the Delhi government, ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Friday.

The flood control room will be monitored by various civic agencies including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority and New Delhi Municipal Council, Aam Aadmi Party leaders said.

The Delhi government is taking active steps to avoid an emergency like the one the capital faced last year when the Yamuna burst its flood plains and reached its highest level in 70 years, Atishi said.

“We are preparing for any eventuality of flood. The control room is in touch with officials of Hathnikund dam, from where the discharge of the Yamuna river is received. After the release of one lakh cusecs of water, relief and rescue facilities will be put in place,” she said.

The ministers added that the decision was taken following a meeting of the high-level committee tasked with supervising, recommending and coordinating flood control measures in Delhi. The meeting included officials from the NDRF, police, army and all departments of the Delhi government.

“Ridiculous claims”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said Ms Atishi’s statements regarding flood control were “ridiculous and hollow”.

“Atishi, who is also the in-charge of the Delhi Jal Board, made tall promises about uninterrupted water supply throughout the summer, but in June, she was denied after a severe water crisis erupted. Later, she made statements about cleaning the drains and ensuring an efficient water drainage system during the monsoon. This lie was also exposed when the city received its first rains on June 28,” he said.

Mr Sachdeva said that after seeing first-hand the results of the minister’s “statements”, the people of Delhi are “stunned” by the promises made by the flood control cell. “How can a government that makes false promises serve a third bowl of lies to the people?” he asked.