New Delhi, 14 April (H.S.):
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the government has approved the construction of a protective wall to safeguard against Yamuna floods.
Under this project, a robust security wall, approximately 4.72 kilometers long, will be constructed along the Ring Road from Majnu ka Tila to the Old Railway Bridge (ORB).
The Chief Minister stated on Tuesday that her government had passed a proposal for this wall's construction in the immediate budget.
This wall will not only prevent Yamuna waters from infiltrating residential areas but will also serve as an impregnable protective shield for sensitive regions such as Civil Lines, Kashmiri Gate, Yamuna Bazaar, and Majnu ka Tila.
For decades, whenever the Yamuna's water level rises, water first enters the capital from Majnu ka Tila and its surrounding low-lying areas.
From the devastating 1978 flood to those in 2023 and 2025, this stretch of the Ring Road becomes inundated, thereby paralyzing the entire rhythm of Delhi.
The Chief Minister clarified that the existing embankments are insufficient for future challenges, which is why the government is now advancing towards a permanent solution.
According to government data, in 2023, the Yamuna reached its all-time record level of 208.66 meters, shattering the 1978 record. Meanwhile, in 2025, it surpassed the danger mark of 205.33 meters, climbing to 207.48 meters.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the threat of such floods will persist in the future, and the proposed wall represents a robust and enduring alternative for a permanent resolution.
The technical foundation of this project is the report of the Joint Flood Committee prepared in August 2024, which incorporated hydraulic model studies and detailed data analysis by experts and members from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWP-RS) in Pune.
This study explicitly recommended that constructing a sturdy flood protection wall along this section of the Ring Road is the only long-term solution; however, the previous government took no decision to protect Delhi from floods, resulting in flood-like conditions arising in these areas whenever inundation occurs.
The Chief Minister informed that this wall, to be built along the Yamuna's banks, will form a formidable bulwark between the river and the city, ensuring that overflowing river water does not spill onto roads.
It will protect riverbanks from erosion, thereby safeguarding the foundations of roads and surrounding buildings.
Additionally, the wall will help curb illegal waste dumping and municipal solid waste along the riverbanks, preserving the Yamuna's flood plain and conserving its ecological system.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Delhi government is advancing this project with war footing resolve to complete it. The target is to finish the entire wall before the next monsoon season of 2027.
This initiative extends beyond mere flood protection; it constitutes an efficacious endeavor to fortify urban infrastructure, protect the environment, and secure the quality of life for citizens. She assured that upon completion of this wall, Delhi will attain permanent relief from its annual flood woes.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
