The Wazirabad barrage or Wazirabad bridge,[2] built in 1959 is a 1,491 ft long weir across Yamuna River, in north Delhi.[3][4] ITO barrage and Okhla barrage are 2 downstream barrages in Delhi and are managed by Haryana and UP respectively,[5][6][7][1][8] whereas the Wazirabad barrage is under the management of Delhi govt.
| Wazirabad barrage | |
|---|---|
 Wazirabad bridge on Sahibi River | |
  Location of Wazirabad barrage in Delhi | |
| Country | India |
| Location | Wazirabad, Delhi |
| Coordinates | 28°42′45″N 77°13′59″E / 28.712448°N 77.233184°E |
| Status | Functional |
| Opening date | 1959[1] |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Length | 1,491 ft (454 m) |
History
editIt was built in 1959 to supply drinking water to the city of Delhi.[3]
Technical details
editIt is a 1,491 ft long barrage with 6 under-sluices of 60 ft each on the right side and a 17 bays spillway of 58 ft each. The top of the spillway is 4 ft. higher than the under-sluices. There is a concrete floor flexible apron, both upstream and down-stream.[9]
Proposal for New Wazirabad barrage
editA March 2013 proposal for Delhi envisages building a "New Wazirabad barrage" 8 km north of the current barrage, that will utilize the existing eastern and western boundary margins of the current barrage, will serve as the bridge over the Yamuna and flanks will serve as road expressways.[10]
Navigation restoration
editThis barrage on Yaumna is part of National Waterway NW110, one of India's 111 National Waterways. The barrage lies on the Delhi-Faridabad Yaumna waterway, from Wazirabad barrage in north Delhi to Palla barrage in north Faridabad via ITO barrage and Okhla barrage.[11]
Bird Sanctuary
editThe Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary lies in the vicinity. The 51 km-long Najafgarh drain (named after Mirza Najaf Khan 1723–82) starts at Dhansa and joins the Yamuna river just downstream of Wazirabad barrage. Sanctuary has helped in the improvement in water quality, restoration of groundwater recharge and in providing wetland for the migratory birds.[9][12][13]
Concerns
editYamuna, from its origin at Yamunotri in Himalayas to Wazirabad barrage, travels 375 kilometres (233 mi) by carrying "reasonably good quality" water. Between Wazirabad and Okhla barrage, 15 drains discharge sewage rendering the water quality after Wazirabad barrage severely polluted with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values ranging from 14 to 28 mg/L and high coliform content.[14] Causes of pollution are municipal disposal sites, run-off from the commercial and industrial sites, soil erosion resulting from deforestation occurring to make way for agriculture along with resulting chemical wash-off from petrochemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b 1967, Annual Research Memoirs, - Central Water and Power Research Station (India)]
- ^ I. Mohan, 1992, Environment and Urban Development: A Critical Evaluation of Slums.
- ^ a b 2000, Workshop, Role of Gates and their Control in Water Resources, Central Board of Irrigation and Power India.
- ^ 1959, Civic Affairs, Volume 7, Issues 1-6, Page 51.
- ^ Okhla barrage to be shut at night for 45 days., Times of India, 20 Sept 2017.
- ^ Joginder Singh, 2010, India, Democracy and Disappointments, Page 504.
- ^ Sharad K. Jain, Pushpendra K. Agarwal, Vijay P. Singh, 2007, Hydrology and Water Resources of India, Page 348.
- ^ Too many cooks spoil the broth , The Hindu, 29 March 2016.
- ^ a b Don't cloud the issue – USHA RAI looks at some success stories in rainwater harvesting that should convince those of us who are still sceptical, 22 December 2002, The Hindu
- ^ Regional plan
- ^ Yamuna water link may get govt nod, Times of India, 6 April 2016.
- ^ Proposal for Ground Water Recharge in National Capital Region (NCR) Dr S.K. Sharma Ground Water Expert, [1]
- ^ Groundwater to be recharged at Najafgarh, Mungeshwar drains Archived 13 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 10 March 2007, The Indian Express
- ^ "'Ganga is the most polluted river'". The Hindu. 23 November 2003. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ 2015, INDIA 2015, New Media Wing.