No topographical survey of Yamuna from 2005 to 2011: CAG

No topographical survey of Yamuna river was conducted from the year 2005 to 2011 except during 2008 when a private firm was hired at a cost of over Rs 33 lakh, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General today said.
The audit scrutiny showed that though IFCD (Irrigation and Flood Control Department) had been regularly conducting topographical surveys on the river up to the year 2004, it did not conduct any survey for the year 2005 to 2011 due to shortage of trained staff and surveyors, except for 2008, when a private firm was hired at a cost of Rs 33.20 lakh.

The survey for the year 2012 was again outsourced at Rs 40.70 lakh.
The final report of 2008 survey was received in April 2011, whereas the report for 2012 was awaited as of December 2013, it said.
Thus in the absence of surveys, IFCD was poorly equipped to take up anti-erosion works during the period.
After, monsoon withdraws in the middle of October, a topographical survey of river Yamuna is conducted by IFCD to ascertain changes in annual features of river bed area caused by heavy flow during preceding four months, to initiate and complete corrective measures before the onset of the next monsoon.