Monsoon to hit city in 72 hours: IMD

New Delhi: Monsoon is likely to hit the national capital in the next 72 hours, beginning with light showers on Tuesday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The IMD said light rains were expected on Wednesday and Thursday after which the delayed monsoon will set in.

With the rains, there would be a slight dip in the temperature, said IMD's Kuldeep Srivastava. The maximum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 40 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 30 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a pilot project for conservation of water in the Yamuna floodplains and creating a mega reservoir between Palla and Wazirabad to deal with the "water problem" in the city.

Kejriwal said small ponds will be created in the floodplains which will catch water from an overflowing Yamuna. "This water will percolate down and recharge ground water table. The Delhi Cabinet has approved the proposal," he said. We will also create a 20-kilometer water reservoir from Palla to Wazirabad, he said. Kejriwal said the government will rent land from farmers to create ponds.