NEW DELHI: Delhi government announced that it would upgrade the Wazirabad barrage on the Yamuna river for better alertness in flood-like situations.
Water minister Satyendar Jain held a meeting with the government’s irrigation and flood control department and Delhi Jal Board officials over the issue. The new gates at the barrage will also help wash away excess ammonia and other contaminants when required.
“Upgrading these barrages is the need of the hour. Every year, lakhs of cusecs of water flows in the river. It is important to have the latest technology to regulate the barrage system,” said Jain.
The Wazirabad barrage was built in 1959 across the Yamuna in north Delhi, one among six across the river.
According to the government, new barrage gates will be built using the latest technology with a flood alarm system for quick response during the rainy season when the flow of water in the river is high.
“During monsoon, up to 4 to 5 lakh million gallons of water flows all at once through these barrages. The reconstruction of these new barrage gates will increase its strength so that they can withstand the high water pressure,” said a statement from the government.
A barrage is a type of diversion dam that consists of many large gates that can be opened or closed to control the amount of water passing through. This allows the structure to regulate and stabilize river water elevation upstream for irrigation and other systems. This new barrage upgrade will also help to hold more water during the non-rainy season, leading to more water percolation, which will further help increase the city's groundwater levels.
