Miraculous Save For Punjab, Massive Flood Underway In Delhi

Massive floods are under way in Delhi when over 4,10,000 cusecs of was released last night. Last month situation became critical when just 1,50,000 cusecs of water was released. Let me remind you Kosi was devastated by 100,000 cusecs of flows as stated by Bihar WR minister.

The cause of this man made tragedy are two Delhi Metro service yards in the middle of Yamuna that blocs more than 50% of normal flood passage on left bank and on the right banks we have Delhi Secretariat Building itself.

Akshardham Temple and Asian Games complexes also bloc almost 50% of the river flow.

Punjab had miraculous escape as god was more annoyed with Delhi government and poured more water in Yamuna Catchments than Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.

Punjab is affected by the rivers and all have huge dams. But due to Stupidity of BBMB who didn’t learn any lesson from 1988 tragedy the worst floods to hit Punjab.

From the 19th data of BBMB you can see that as heavy rains lashed Punjab and catchments of Sutlej and Beas in Himachal Pradesh inflows in these two dams was already 150,000 cusecs but Sutley and Beas releases were only 21,778 cusecs. Inflows peaked later when rains in Punjab and Himachal reduced just moderate level.

From the CEA document it is clear Ranjit Sagar dam on Ravi had filled to a quarter of its storage capacity therefore absorbed all the floods.

Threat to Delhi persists with over 4,09,000 cusecs of water released though getting partly absorbed in the 260 kilometer passage and reduced releases at Hathinkkund Barrage means less quantity of water shall be available to fill large area. Floods beyond the capacity of Yamuna to safely discharge floods lasted about two days when water releases reported were 3,80,000 cusecs and 4,09,000 cusecs on 20th & 21st. Thus roughly 0.8 maf amount of water will cause flooding – about a third of 1978 floods but for the congestions caused by encroachments explained earlier this flood would have caused small damage.

But 0.8 maf over a million acres is 10 inches of water. East Delhi and flood prone areas area around 400 square kilometers or 1,00,000 acres therefore good enough to submerge entire area under 100 inches of water. Any breach or overflow will be destructive. This time there no flooding in Najafgarh drain that passes through Delhi caused 50% of damage in 1978.

Dams on Yamuna must be built speedily. In the present situation storages of around 1.2 maf would have absorbed all the floods this year leaving not more than 1 lac cusecs to pass any point in Yamuna all the way Delhi up wards..

Ravinder Singh
September22, 2008

http://www.cea.nic.in/god/opm/Daily_Hydro_Reservoir_Level/hyd_2008_09_17.pdf

http://bbmb.gov.in/english/menu4.asp

Date

SATLUJ

BEAS

Inflows
(Cusecs)

BSL Contri.
(Cusecs)

Disch.
(Cusecs)

Bhakra Level
(feet)

Inflows at
Pong
(Cusecs)

Disch.
(Cusecs)

Pong
Level
(feet)

21/9/2008

87904

3414

21000

1680.07

64714

778

1386.75

Date

GENERATION

Bhakra Power
House (LU)

Canal Power
House (LU)

Dehar (LU)

Pong
(LU)

Total
(LU)

21/9/2008

257.5

29.74

3.49

26.83

317.56

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080922/punjab1.htm#4

Reservoir filled to the brim; BBMB increases generation
Tribune News Service
Nangal, September 21
The level of water in Bhakra reservoir today reached a maximum 1680.28 feet, 28 inches more than the complete filling mark.

The level of water has risen due to heavy rains that have lashed Himachal Pradesh during the past three days. BBMB officials said the water inflow in Bhakra reservoir was 1 lakh cusecs yesterday.

The inflow has now reduced considerably and there was no cause of worry, said sources. The maximum water level of 1,680 ft has come on the last day of official filling season.

Keeping in view the rising water level, the BBMB has increased power generation to utilise the surplus water available in the reservoir.

The scheduled generation for Sunday from Bhakra powerhouses has been increased to 1,398 MW. The actual generation was 1,426 MW.

The generation from Bhakra complex on Saturday was 206 lakh units, 98 lakh units from Dehar Power house and 22 lakh units from Pong powerhouse. The Dehar powerhouse has now been closed for flushing.

Notably, full generation capacity of Bhakra Complex is 1,445 MW and full reservoir level of Bhakra is restricted to 1,680 ft while keeping a margin up to 1,685 ft for absorbing any flood inflows.

In case the level exceeds 1,685 ft, the spillway gates are opened. Normally, by maintaining full generation at BBMB, the authorities are able to restrict reservoir level to 1,680 ft.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080922/haryana.htm#1

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080921/haryana.htm#1

Discharge of water in Yamuna recedes
Tribune Reporters
Karnal, September 21
The local administration and flood-control authorities heaved a sigh of relief as the discharge of water in the Yamuna receded and the impending flood threat in two dozen low-lying villages along the banks of the river averted.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda, who made an aerial survey of the area, said the situation was under control and everything was in place. “The discharge of water which crossed the high flood threat limit of 4 lakh cusecs yesterday has receded to 91,000 cusecs and there is no cause for anxiety,” superintending engineer (irrigation), M.K. Ahuja told TNS from the spot.

Meanwhile, Ghari Birbal village and the road linking Yamunanagar were submerged under 2 to 3 feet water, while Chowgaon village was marooned. The gushing water entered about a dozen houses in low-lying areas in these villages and the residents were evacuated.

A “rat-hole” at Garhi Birbal resulted in leakage and JCBs were pressed into service to plug the leakage. The operation “plug rat-hole” is in progress but little success had been achieved.

Floodwaters also seeped into Chandro, Hansumajara, Nagli, and Sayeed Chhapra in Karnal district, while Mundigarh, Lalupura, Bilaspur and some other villages in Panipat district were still under threat, as water released from the Hathnikund barrage on Friday is expected to flow through these areas anytime.

There was little we could do to avert the floods, as the discharge of water was very high and sandbags were placed along the banks to check diversion of water, executive engineer Pawan Verma said.

Though there was no human casualty, several hundred hectres of agriculture land was inundated, causing extensive damage to crops. The heavy rains in the catchment area of the Yamuna during the past two days had suddenly increased the discharge of water, creating flood-like situation in the region.

Yamunanagar: Although the water level of the ravaging Yamuna today reduced significantly, it has caused considerable damage to over two dozen villages..

Villagers were still trapped in 4 to 6 feet water. Besides houses, standing paddy crop in thousands of acres was also damaged.

A 22-year-old youth of Bhilpura village was believed to be drowned while saving others last night.

The villages which were worst hit by the swollen Yamuuna include Kayanwala, Majra, Navajpur, Lal Chhapar, Majiri, Gumthala, Lakar, Bhilpura.

The water level of Yamuna reduced to 85000 cusecs at 4 p.m. at Hathnikund barrage today, while yesterday it was recorded 4.09 lakh cusecs, much above the danger level and also said to be highest in the past nine years at the same time. As the water in the river was flowing much above the danger level, officials at the headworks opened all 18 floodgates to release the water in the Yamuna downstream.

A team of three officials was deployed at each control room set up at different places, including Radaur, Sadhaura, Bilaspur and also in the tehsil office of Chhachhrauli and the water services division, Jagadhri, to monitor the situation round the clock.

The increase in the water level of the Yamuna has posed a major threat to the low-lying areas of the river in Delhi. The swollen river will hit Delhi early morning tomorrow, said the irrigation department officials. The water level of Yamuna was nearly three times more than what was on August 14.

Power generation at the Tajewala hydel project of 62 mw capacity in the district has been stopped following the rise in the water level of Yamuna river. The decision was taken to avoid any damages to the project following the increase in the silt level in the river, said a senior functionary of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam.

Ambala: Around 1000 acres in 15 villages of the Naggal constituency close to Ambala City submerged due to breaches in the SYL canal at four places close to zero point of the Haryana-Punjab border today.

The administration summoned two companies of the Army to plug the breaches.
The first breach appeared in the canal near Khera village in the morning.

Villagers informed the administration immediately, but the breach widened so fast that the water started filling the fields of the adjoining villages.

The district administration summoned the Army when it found the situation beyond its control. Two companies of the 65 Engineering of the Army started the rescue operations under the supervision of Col S.K. Vidhyarthi. Around 500 villagers of nearby villages and volunteers of social and religious organisations were assisting the Army and civil officials.

Crops in more than 12 villages, including Khera, Amipur , Ismailpur , Chaudmastpur , Bidanga , Dangesria , Kurbanpur Adho Majra and Bhendsa have been reportedly affected.

Villagers said that the entire paddy crop of their villages got spoiled in the overflowing canal water. They were annoyed that the administration had not taken precautionary measures, whereas the administration had claimed to spend crores of rupees on flood-control work every year.

The villagers fearing that water could enter their houses have started taking their household goods on rooftops. INLD leader Hardayal Singh Khera and former MLA of the constituency Jasbir Malor said people of the area had been demanding a siphon to be set up at the breach point for a long time but it was not taken seriously.

Some Questions about the Counter-Terror Operation at Jamia Nagar, New Delhi

A team comprising activists, academicians and journalists visited the site of the police operation against alleged terrorists staying in an apartment in Jamia Nagar in the afternoon of 20.09.2008 (Saturday). Two alleged terrorists Atif and Sajid, along with Mohan Chand Sharma, an inspector of the Delhi Police’s Special Cell died in the operation while a third alleged terrorist was arrested.

On the basis of our interactions with the local residents, eye witnesses and the reports which have appeared in the media, we would like to pose the following questions:

1)   It has been widely reported that in early August this year Atif, who is described by the Delhi Police as the mastermind behind the recent terrorist bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, underwent a police verification exercise along with his four roommates in order to rent the apartment they were staying in Jamia Nagar. All the five youth living in the apartment submitted to the Delhi police their personal details, including permanent address, driving license details, address of the house they previously stayed in, all of which were found to be accurate. Though the police is now denying the veracity of the verification form, Mr. Rehman, the caretaker of the flat, has vouched, on camera, that he accompanied Atif to the Police Station for the verification.

Is it conceivable that the alleged kingpin behind the terrorist Indian Mujahideen outfit would have wanted to undergo a police verification- for whatever purpose- just a week after the Ahmedabad blasts and a month before the bombings in Delhi?

2)      The four-storeyed house L-18 in Jamia Nagar, where the alleged terrorists were staying, has only one access point, through the stair case, which is covered by an iron grill. It is impossible to leave the house except from the staircase. By all reports, the staircase was taken over by the Special Cell and/ or other agencies during the counter-terror operation. The house, indeed the entire block, was cordoned off at the time of the operation.

How then was it then possible, as claimed by the police, for two alleged terrorists to escape the premises during the police operation?

3)      The media has quoted ‘police sources’ as having informed them that the Special Cell was fully aware about the presence of dreaded terrorists, involved in the bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, staying in the apartment that was raided.

Why was the late Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, a veteran of dozens of encounter operations, the only officer in the operation not wearing a bullet proof vest? Was this due to over-confidence or is there something else to his  death during the operation? Will the forensic report of the bullets that killed Inspector Sharma be made public?

4)      There are reports that towards the end of the counter-terror operation,  some policemen climbed on the roof of L-18 and fired several rounds in the air. Other policemen were seen breaking windows and even throwing flower pots to the ground from flats adjacent or opposite to L-18

Why was the police firing in the air and why did it indulge in destruction of property around L-18 after the encounter?

5)      The police officials claim that an AK-47 and pistols were recovered from L-18.

What was the weapon that killed Inspector Sharma? Was the AK-47 used at all and by whom? Going by some reports that have appeared (see ‘Times of India’, 20.09.08), the AK-47s have been used by the police only. Is it not strange that alleged terrorists did not use a more deadly and sophisticated weapon like the AK-47, which they purportedly possessed, preferring to use pistols?

We feel that there are far too many loose ends in the current story of the police encounter at L-18 in Jamia Nagar. We demand that a fair, impartial and independent probe into the incident be initiated at the earliest to answer the above questions as also any other ones that arise from the contradictions of the case.

Signed/- Shabnam Hashmi (Anhad), Satya Sivaraman (Independent Journalist), Manisha Sethi (Forum for Democratic Initiatives), Tanweer Fazal (Forum for Democratic Initiatives), Arshad Alam (Jamia Millia Islamia), Neshat Quaiser (Jamia Millia Islamia), Pallavi Deka (General Secretary, JNU Students’ Union)

Sukhia Sab Sansar Khaye Aur Soye
Dukhia Das Kabir Jagey Aur Roye

The world is ‘happy’, eating and sleeping
The forlorn Kabir Das is awake and weeping

Delhi shootout drama – a timeline

Submitted by Tarique Anwar on 19 September 2008 – 6:13pm.

*       Indian <http://www.twocircles.net/news/indian-muslim>  Muslim

By IANS,
New Delhi : Following is the sequence of events, according to Delhi Police,
of Friday’s shootout in which two suspected terrorists were killed, two
managed to escape and one was captured:
Around 10 a.m.:
* A team of 20 people led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Yadav
reaches Jamia Nagar. The team takes position on the buildings around
apartment block L-18.
Between 11-11.45 a.m.:
* Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was not wearing a flak jacket, knocks on
the front door of an apartment on the fourth floor of L-18 building.
* Sharma asks the inmates to come out for police verification. Occupants
open fire from a .3 mm pistol.
* Three bullets hit Sharma; two pass through his body. Sharma falls down as
the policemen take shelter.
* Head Constable Balwan Singh suffers injury on right hand.
* Sharma is taken to the nearby Holy Family Hospital, where doctors
immediately wheel him into the operation theatre to remove a bullet lodged
in his stomach.
* Senior police officials, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Special
Cell) Karnal Singh and Deputy commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok
Kumar arrive at Jamia Nagar.
* Various teams of the Special Cell are pressed into the service along with
a platoon of elite National Security Guards commandos.
* Teams wearing protective gear once again try to move into the apartment.
* As both side trade fire, police asked people in the area to remain
indoors.
* Police fired a total of 22 rounds; occupants of apartment retaliate with
eight rounds.
* Two suspected terrorists are gunned down, even as two others managed to
flee from the rear of the apartment, apparently by jumping onto the roof of
an adjoining building; one man is captured as police move into the
apartment.
* Police teams remove the bodies of the dead and take away the captured man
to an undisclosed location.
Around 11.45 a.m.:
* Police declare the firefight over.
* People come out of the their houses and chant anti-police slogans,
expressing their anger to reporters for wrongly reporting that terrorists
were hiding in a nearby mosque.
4 p.m.:
* Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal holds press conference to announce
that one of the dead was Asif, mastermind of Delhi bombings.
7 p.m.
* Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, grievously injured in the police raid, is
dead.