Yamuna Floodplain

Yamuna Floodplain
  News
    Yamuna water levels reached 60 year high
    Yamuna waters advanced towards Taj Mahal
      1st time in half a century
  Highlights
    Yamuna river system
      Includes river and adjoining lands
      Passes through several states
        Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
        Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
      Drainage area: 366,220 sq km
    Yamuna River Course
      Enters Delhi from Palla village (38.5 km from national capital)
      Exits at Okhla barrage
      Three stretches
        Northern (Palla to Wazirabad barrage, 26 km)
        Central (Wazirabad to Okhla barrage, 22 km)
        Southern (Okhla barrage to Jaitpur village, 4 km)
    Floodplain Composition
      Between Palla and Okhla
        Changes from farmlands to slums, colonies, flyovers, bridges
        Permanent structures like Ring Road, Akshardham Temple complex, etc.
    Area and Boundaries
      Designated as O zone by Delhi Development Authority
      Covers approximately 9,700 hectares in Delhi
      Two km wide on each side of river
    Impact of Construction and Encroachments
      Significant reductions in boundaries due to urbanization
      Lead to reduced groundwater recharge, limited river's spread, increased pollution
    People and Livelihoods
      Home to 56 bastis with 9,350 households and 46,750 people
      Half engage in farming, others rely on daily wage work, fishing, etc.
      Farmers cultivate rice, wheat, flowers on fertile silt
    Environmental Impact and Conservation
      Floodplains slow water runoff, recharge groundwater, store excess water
      Construction activities negatively impacted ecological health
    Flood Protection and Climate Resilience
      Proper management and zoning essential for flood protection
      Poorly implemented policies allowed for encroachment and construction
    Efforts for River Cleanup
      Action plans initiated but pollution remains a concern
      Large parts of floodplains and riverbed abused

News

  • Recently, the water levels of the Yamuna river reached a 60-year high.
  • For the first time in half a century, the Yamuna waters advanced towards the iconic Taj Mahal.

Yamuna River System

  • The Yamuna river system includes the river and its adjoining lands.
  • The river passes through several states: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • It has a vast drainage area covering 366,220 square kilometers.

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Yamuna River Course

  • The Yamuna river enters Delhi from the village of Palla, which is located 38.5 km from the national capital.
  • It exits Delhi at the Okhla barrage.
  • The river can be divided into three stretches within Delhi:
    1. Northern stretch: From Palla to Wazirabad barrage, spanning 26 km.
    2. Central stretch: From Wazirabad to Okhla barrage, spanning 22 km.
    3. Southern stretch: From Okhla barrage to Jaitpur village, spanning 4 km.

Floodplain Composition

  • The floodplain between Palla and Okhla undergoes various changes, ranging from farmlands to slums, colonies, flyovers, and bridges.
  • It also includes permanent structures like the Ring Road and the Akshardham Temple complex.

Area and Boundaries

  • The floodplains are designated as O zone by the Delhi Development Authority.
  • They cover approximately 9,700 hectares in Delhi and are two kilometers wide on each side of the river. copyright©iasexpress.net

Impact of Construction and Encroachments

  • Urbanization and construction activities have significantly reduced the boundaries of the floodplains.
  • This has led to reduced groundwater recharge, limited the river’s spread during floods, and increased pollution.

People and Livelihoods

  • The Yamuna floodplains are home to 56 bastis (settlements) with 9,350 households and around 46,750 people.
  • Half of the population is engaged in farming, while others rely on daily wage work, fishing, etc.
  • Farmers cultivate rice, wheat, and flowers on the fertile silt of the floodplains.

Environmental Impact and Conservation

  • The floodplains play a crucial role in slowing water runoff, recharging groundwater, and storing excess water during floods.
  • However, construction activities have negatively impacted the ecological health of the floodplains.

Flood Protection and Climate Resilience

  • Proper management and zoning are essential for flood protection and climate resilience.
  • Poorly implemented policies have allowed for encroachments and construction on the floodplains.

Efforts for River Cleanup

  • Various action plans have been initiated to clean up the Yamuna river, but pollution remains a major concern.
  • Large parts of the floodplains and riverbed have been abused, leading to environmental degradation.

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