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Why is it in the News
Haryana is currently under high alert due to relentless heavy rains causing alarming flood conditions across the state. On September 1, 2025, the Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar witnessed record-breaking water inflows with gates opened for the first time this season, discharging up to 3.29 lakh cusecs of water by 9 am.
This has prompted urgent flood warnings for Yamunanagar and downstream areas including Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, and Faridabad. Residents along the Yamuna River banks are being cautioned to stay away from flood-prone zones while authorities coordinate emergency relief and precautionary actions.
About Hathnikund Barrage
- The Hathnikund Barrage is a pivotal hydraulic structure located on the Yamuna River in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
- Hathnikund Barrage was constructed and commissioned in 1999.
- It serves multiple purposes such as irrigation, flood control, and water supply across northern Haryana.
- Geographically, it regulates the water flow from the Yamuna into several canals critical for agriculture and urban water needs in the region.
- Due to its strategic importance, any flood threat or opening of its gates directly impacts extensive populations living downstream and agricultural landscapes.
Main Purposes of Hathnikund Barrage
- Irrigation
- Water is diverted into two important canal systems:
- Western Yamuna Canal (WYC) – Supplies water to Haryana and Delhi.
- Eastern Yamuna Canal (EYC) – Provides irrigation water to Uttar Pradesh.
- These canals irrigate lakhs of hectares of farmland, supporting wheat, rice, sugarcane, and cotton crops.
- Water is diverted into two important canal systems:
- Drinking Water Supply
- Hathnikund is the primary source of drinking water for Delhi.
- Nearly 60-70% of Delhi’s raw water comes through canals linked to this barrage.
- Flood Control
- During monsoon, when the Yamuna swells, water is released systematically to reduce pressure and protect embankments.
- However, heavy discharge often leads to flooding in downstream regions.
- Ecological Balance
- By ensuring minimum flow in the Yamuna, it helps maintain aquatic biodiversity, wetlands, and groundwater recharge.
Geographic Significance
- It is situated on the Yamuna in the southeastern corner of Yamunanagar district, near the Himachal Pradesh border.
- Supports irrigation in Haryana, Western UP, Delhi, and parts of Rajasthan.
- It also controls Yamuna’s seasonal flow, protecting fertile plains from erosion, while balancing water supply for farmland and urban areas.
- Low-lying villages near the Barrage are most at risk during high inflow events when floodgates must be opened to release excess water.
FAQs
Q1: Why were the gates of Hathnikund Barrage opened recently?
The gates were opened due to unprecedented heavy rains leading to excess water inflow (3.29 lakh cusecs) that exceeded the barrage’s holding capacity, necessitating release to avoid upstream flooding and structural risks.
Q2: Which areas are most affected by the water release at Hathnikund Barrage?
Most affected are the low-lying villages along the Yamuna River in Yamunanagar district and downstream districts like Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, and Faridabad where flood alerts have been issued.
Q3: What safety measures are government authorities implementing?
Authorities have opened floodgates, issued flood warnings, sounded sirens, suspended school activities in vulnerable zones, deployed teams for riverbank reinforcement, and set up emergency response control rooms.
Q4: How does the Hathnikund Barrage impact the geography of Haryana?
It regulates Yamuna’s water flow critical to irrigation and flood control across northern Haryana’s fertile agricultural plains and urban centers, shaping both ecology and human settlement patterns.
