Central Water Commission (CWC) is maintaining a Gauge & Discharge observation site on river Yamuna at Old Delhi Railway Bridge downstream of Wazirabad barrage since 1963.  A study of observed data at the site does not suggest that there is any trend showing that water levels in river Yamuna are falling over the years during the corresponding periods of the year.

River Yamuna is one of the main sources of water supply to Delhi.  The water from River Yamuna is supplied to Delhi at Wazirabad barrage also.  The full pond level at Wazirabad barrage is to be maintained as per the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 29.02.1996. The release of water in river Yamuna and canal network is regulated through Hathnikund Barrage (nearly 240 kms. From Delhi) and a regulator at Munak, both under the control of Haryana Irrigation Department.  The water travels a long distance before reaching Delhi.  Therefore there is a possibility of fluctuation of water level at Wazirabad barrage.  As and when a fall in water level is reported by Delhi Jal Board, the Haryana Irrigation Department is requested to release more water for maintaining the pond level, so that the water supply to Delhi from river Yamuna is ensured.

  Delhi Jal Board ( DJB) has informed that the present population of Delhi is 165 lakhs (approx.) and DJB is supplying 720 MGD of water.  As per the past trend the population is estimated to be around 230 lakhs by 2021.  As such the potable water demand is expected to be 1380 MGD by 2021.  Present installed capacity of water treatment plants (WTP) are:

WTP                                                                             Capacity

Chandrawal                                                                   90 MGD

Wazirabad                                                                     120 MGD

Haiderpur                                                                      200 MGD

Nangloi                                                                          40 MGD

Bawana                                                             20 MGD

Bhagirathi                                                                      100 MGD

Sonia Vihar                                                                   140 MGD

Ranney wells/  tubewells                                               100 MGD

Total                                                                             810 MGD

Out of the above Sonia Vihar & Nangloi Water Treatment Plants  are running under capacity due to less supply of raw water and Bawana WTP which is ready but not running due to non-availability of raw water.  To bridge the gap between supply and demand,   following steps are being undertaken:

(i)         Efforts are being made to increase raw water supply of Sonia Vihar  WTP.

(ii)            Strengthening of water carrier canals to increase raw water supply to Nangloi WTP.

A scheme for construction of parallel line channel from Munak to Haiderpur WTP is being executed by Haryana against deposit of Rs. 315 crore from Delhi Government.  This will make available  additional water due to savings in seepage water losses in the existing canal.  

Four  re-cyclying back wash/waste water treatment plants are also under construction and will produce 45 MGD of additional water.

            Water harvesting schemes to recharge the depleting ground water table in Delhi are being  promoted.  Three storage dams in Yamuna basin to provide raw water to Delhi are proposed to be constructed  at Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi. As per MoU of  May, 1994 among Upper Yamuna Basin States ( Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand & Himachal Pradesh) Delhi is to get 0.724 BCM of water out of the 11.983 BCM  of annual utilizable flow of Yamuna upto Okhla. In accordance with MoU of May 1994 separate agreement will be executed in respect of each identified storage project. Ministry of Water Resources in association with Central Water Commission is facilitating to work out the Resolution on each of the storage projects in respect of sharing of benefits and cost.  Out of these three dams  Detailed Project Report of Renuka dam in Himachal Pradesh is in advanced stage of appraisal by Central Water Commission.

With these measures,  by 2021, it is expected that the supply of raw water to Delhi will  cross 1380 MGD against the demand of 1380 MGD.    

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources Shri Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav  to a question by Shri Raghunath Jha in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

SK/BS