Okhla plant restarts as Yamuna water level recedes

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday that the Okhla water treatment plant is being restarted as the water levels in the Yamuna here are receding.

The government had announced the closure of three water treatment plants — Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla — due to the rising water levels in the Yamuna following days of heavy rains in Delhi and the upper catchment areas.

Due to the closure of the plants, many areas in the national capital were facing a water shortage.

“With receding water levels, we are starting Okhla water treatment (plant). (I) Am reaching there to take stock,” Kejriwal tweeted.

He is also expected to visit the Wazirabad water treatment plant.

After breaching a 45-year record three days ago, water levels in the Yamuna in Delhi came down to 208.25 metres at 3 pm on Friday even as several key areas in the city were inundated.

According to Central Water Commission (CWC) data, the water level stood at 208.57 metres in the early hours of Friday and fell marginally to 208.48 metres at 5 am.

The water level in the Yamuna was 208.42 metres at 8 am, 208.38 metres at 10 am and 208.35 metres at 11 am. It went down further to 208.27 metres at 1 pm and 208.25 metres at 3 pm.

The Yamuna in Delhi swelled to 207.71 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time record of 207.49 metres set in 1978.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made an announcement on Friday regarding the resumption of operations at the Okhla water treatment plant. This decision comes in light of the receding water levels in the Yamuna River, which had prompted the closure of three water treatment plants: Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Okhla. These closures had caused water scarcity issues in various areas of the national capital.

Kejriwal took to Twitter to share the news and stated that the Okhla water treatment plant would be restarted due to the declining water levels. He also mentioned that he would personally visit the plant to assess the situation. Additionally, the Chief Minister is expected to visit the Wazirabad water treatment plant.

The Yamuna River in Delhi experienced record-breaking water levels three days prior, surpassing a 45-year high. However, by 3 pm on Friday, the water levels had reduced to 208.25 meters. Despite this improvement, certain parts of the city remained flooded.

According to data from the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level measured 208.57 meters during the early hours of Friday. It slightly decreased to 208.48 meters at 5 am, followed by further declines: 208.42 meters at 8 am, 208.38 meters at 10 am, 208.35 meters at 11 am, 208.27 meters at 1 pm, and finally reaching 208.25 meters at 3 pm.

Previously, the Yamuna River had surpassed its previous all-time record of 207.49 meters set in 1978, reaching 207.71 meters on Wednesday.

(With PTI inputs)