The Central Water Commission (CWC) has acknowledged that its flood forecast for the 2023 Delhi floods, the worst in the city's history, was not accurate.
Key reasons cited by the CWC:
Congestion in the Yamuna river: The free flow of water in the river between Wazirabad and Okhla was impeded by factors such as:
Non-opening of all the gates of the ITO barrage
Formation of silt deposits
Growth of trees within the riverbed
Muck disposal due to construction activities along the river
Impact of these factors:
These obstructions hindered the accurate prediction of water levels by the CWC.
The actual water levels exceeded the forecasted levels, leading to severe flooding in Delhi.
Significance:
This report highlights the importance of maintaining the free flow of rivers for accurate flood forecasting and effective flood management.
It underscores the need for regular riverbed maintenance, removal of obstructions, and proper management of construction activities along riverbanks.
The CWC also mentioned that unusually high discharges from the Hathnikund Barrage contributed to the severity of the floods.
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