Using the floodplain of yamuna
The top layer of accumulated sand washed down by floods over millions of years, makes river
floodplains into giant aquifers. We propose a scheme for the natural storage of excess monsoon
river-water discharge in the extensive and deep sand top layer of the floodplain of the river. The
excess monsoon discharge can be used for a regulated inundation of an embanked area of the
floodplain – to soak in and store the water. This storage can then be used for the withdrawal of
water during the dry months. We illustrate this by an evaluation of the potential of the Yamuna
floodplains in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and show that there can be an annual yield of
600–900 MCM of water, which is three-fourths the total water supply to Delhi. This makes it an
invaluable natural resource potentially worth about Rs 6000–9000 crores a year of non-invasive use.
