The Delhi government plans to formally request Haryana to transfer control of the ITO barrage on the Yamuna River to strengthen the city’s flood defenses, officials announced Wednesday. The move follows the devastating 2023 floods, partly caused by malfunctioning barrage gates.

In 2023, heavy silting jammed five of the barrage’s 32 gates, preventing them from opening during peak Yamuna water levels. This caused water to spill into roads and colonies between Wazirabad and ITO, exacerbating flooding. An Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department report highlighted how the high pressure from unopened gates worsened the crisis. That year, unprecedented rainfall in the Yamuna’s catchment area led to a record-high flood level of 208.66 meters on July 13 at the Old Railway Bridge, surpassing the previous record of 207.49 meters from 1978.

While the barrage gates have since been repaired, Delhi’s Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma has approved a plan to seek control of the barrage, with discussions with Haryana imminent. Delhi currently manages only the Wazirabad barrage, while Uttar Pradesh controls the Okhla barrage. The ITO barrage, critical due to its proximity to flood-prone areas, remains under Haryana’s jurisdiction.

Previous requests for its transfer have been made, but no agreement has been reached. The Delhi government aims to enhance flood management to prevent future disasters that left many homeless in 2023.

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