The Hindu : New Delhi News : Water situation alarming: experts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Water situation alarming: experts

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Town planners, water experts, non-government organisations and eminent citizens on Friday met Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and apprised him of water scarcity in the city and warned of an impending disaster if the proposed new Master Plan for Delhi-2021 was implemented in its present form.

According to a joint statement issue here by New Delhi People's Alliance, Paani Morcha, Tapas and eminent individuals, when Vikram Soni, a senior scientist with National Physical Laboratory, pointed out to the Minister about the depleting water table, the Minister reportedly said the shortage was only due to wastage.

Water experts at the meeting then argued that the scarcity was not immediately visible because around 40 lakh people in the city, mostly in well-off colonies, continue to thrive on groundwater. This was depleting at a fast rate and was not being recharged. As a result, the underground water was turning saline and getting contaminated and within a period of five to 10 years, would not be available. Further, the experts pointed out that people in slums and unauthorised colonies currently survive on only about 50 litres per capita per day. The Minister, however, said providing water to the city was within the purview of the DJB and the Delhi Government.

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