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Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Yamuna level up as Haryana releases 50,000 cusec water, no immediate danger
Noida: After intense rainfall, the Yamuna's water level rose on Wednesday following the release of over 50,000 cusecs from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage, but officials ruled out any immediate danger. At Delhi's Okhla barrage, discharge levels jumped from 8,452 on Tuesday to 34,085 cusecs on Wednesday morning before settling at 32,120 cusecs by 3pm. The water level stood at 197.05 metres, well below the danger mark of 202.17 metres. Officials said current volumes are just 3% of Okhla's record flood discharge. "This is the first time this monsoon that the water discharge from Hathnikund barrage breached the 50,000 mark, which slightly increased the Yamuna level at Okhla barrage in Noida," BK Singh, executive engineer in the irrigation department, told TOI. However, as of Wednesday evening, 13,000 cusecs of water is coming from the Hathnikund barrage, and the volume remains stable, he added. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida District authorities, however, continue to monitor the situation closely. Noida DM Manish Verma earlier conducted a detailed inspection of the Hindon-Yamuna Doab embankment, the Yamuna Marginal Bandh near Yakutpur village, and the flood post in Yakutpur. During the July 2 visit, Verma directed officials to ensure flood posts and control rooms remain operational round-the-clock with adequate staffing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The irrigation department assured the administration that embankments along the 72 km stretch of the Yamuna's left bank within the district were reinforced, and all known weak spots were fixed. On Thursday, officials said that coordination between the irrigation department and sub-district administrations remains tight, and monitoring teams are on alert. Weather forecasts for upstream areas are also being tracked. "While the rise in flow is significant, it is still not a cause for concern. Our systems are in place and ready to respond if needed," the official added.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Home for years, demolition cloud looms over Batla House
New Delhi: In the tightly packed lanes of Batla House, anxiety hangs thick in the air amid fears of demolition. On May 22 and 26, two notices—one from the UP irrigation department and another from Delhi Development Authority—were posted regarding demolitions at khasras 277 and 279 in this southeast Delhi area, respectively. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The notices came without any information. Suddenly, we were told we have to leave our homes. Panic spread like wildfire," said 61-year-old Sohrab Khan, a resident of khasra 279 who has lived here for years. The UP irrigation department asked residents to remove their structures from its land at khasra 277 within 15 days, warning of legal action for non-compliance. The eviction date was set a day before Eid al-Adha in early June. The residents have now got a temporary reprieve after Delhi High Court stayed the irrigation department's plans. Department officials said notices were sent to over 100 houses over the last week. "As per the Supreme Court guidelines stating that a notice should be served to encroachers 15 days prior to demolitions, the UP irrigation department served notices to over 100 houses over the last week. However, a petition was filed by the residents of Batla House on Friday at Delhi High Court, which has ordered a stay on any further action on this," BK Singh, executive engineer of UP irrigation department, told TOI. Singh added that the hearing was scheduled for Aug 4. "Once the stay is lifted by the high court, the department will go ahead with the demolitions to reclaim its encroached land in Batla House," he said. For those living in khasra 279, where DDA claims ownership, uncertainty and anxiety continue. The pasted notice points out that Supreme Court, in a May 7 order, directed that all unauthorised structures outside the PM-UDAY boundary be removed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the notice, June 11 is the eviction deadline. The residents here have also gone to Delhi High Court for a stay. For the families, the notices felt like a bolt from the blue—no prior warnings, no time to prepare, just an abrupt order to vacate. Mohd Wasi, 55, whose family has lived here since 1990, said, "We have all the papers—electricity bills, water connections, IDs—but when the notice came, it was like everything was slipping away. People here have health issues, and it's only getting worse with this constant fear. We live in depression now, to be honest," he said. "But we have full confidence in court. We definitely have faith." His wife, sitting beside him, her face lined with worry, added quietly, "Every night, we just sit and think—what will happen to us, to our child's education? We've been following the law, yet here we are. Our fourth generation has even been working with govt." Their son, a student at a Noida college, worries too. "I dream of building a second home for my parents. Now even the first one is slipping away. If it happens, we'll have to start from zero." The uncertainty has also overshadowed the upcoming celebrations. "The main festival, Eid al-Adha, is near, but how can we celebrate when we are so worried about losing our homes," they asked, the festive spirit lost to fear. "By now, cleaning starts, but it's just silence this time," said Wasi's wife. Nazim (65) said, "When the building was being constructed, people were plotting, DDA said nothing... when their land was going, where were they?" Mohd Idris (53) added, "We have electricity bills, water, my driving licence is from this address, why were we not stopped then?" A DDA official said, "Notice has been issued by DDA as well as GNCTD in khasra no. 279, village Okhla, which is acquired DDA/govt land, to remove unauthorised encroachment, as per directions of the Supreme Court vide order dated May 7, 2025... in order to recover precious govt land. As per the directions of the Supreme Court, 15 days' notice is being issued to the encroachers to vacate govt land." With inputs from Ashni Dhaor
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts raise serious concerns as threatening encounters with wildlife are on the rise: 'Pose major challenges'
Wildlife conflicts in Karnataka, a state in the Southwestern region of India, have reached unprecedented levels, with incidents once considered rare becoming increasingly common. This concerning trend threatens both local communities and wildlife populations, creating an urgent need for better, more comprehensive conservation strategies. Recent studies show wildlife conflicts in Karnataka have risen dramatically over the past five years: cattle kills have more than doubled from 2,000 to over 5,000 annually, while crop damage incidents approached 38,000 cases in 2023-24, costing the forest department Rs 31.61 crore in compensation (around $3.8 million USD). The surge coincides with the loss of over 11,500 acres of natural forest in the past 14 years, including 4,228 acres lost to mining. BK Singh, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, pointed to "forest destruction and fragmentation, shrinking habitat and climate change all coming together to pose major challenges to wildlife management," in an article published by the Deccan Herald. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The government's failure to check encroachments, the misuse of Forest Rights Act, and the politicians' refusal to learn from scientific studies have all brought us to this point," he was quoted as saying in the Herald's reporting. Over the past 14 years, Karnataka lost more than 11,500 acres of forests — an area roughly nine times the size of New York's Central Park. This includes 4,228 acres cleared for mining operations, per the Herald. The rising conflicts directly threaten human safety and livelihoods in Karnataka's communities. Farmers are facing significant crop losses, with compensation often described as a "pittance" for damaged commercial and horticultural crops. The trend also indicates severe habitat destruction that could lead to local extinction of wildlife species and further destabilization of ecosystems that communities depend on. According to the reporting in the Herald, the forest department requires more personnel and resources to address the challenges of wildlife conflict and destruction effectively. Successful conservation initiatives elsewhere have shown promise, such as wildlife corridors that reduce conflicts and community-based programs that help residents coexist with local wildlife. While policy changes happen at higher levels, individuals can take meaningful steps in their own communities to reduce wildlife conflicts. Supporting local forest conservation groups, using wildlife-resistant fencing and storage methods, and avoiding encroachment into wildlife corridors all help to minimize human-wildlife conflict. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
