The Hindu : New Delhi News : Study presents bleak scenario at water front for Delhi

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Monday, May 07, 2007
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Study presents bleak scenario at water front for Delhi

Staff Reporter

The Capital currently faces a shortfall of 577 million gallons per day

NEW DELHI: A study carried out by a group of non-government organisations and residents' welfare associations like Ridge Bachao Andolan, New Delhi People's Alliance and United Residents' Joint Action, as well as experts from National Physical Laboratory and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, dealing in ground water issues has raised doubts over various measures suggested in Master Plan for Delhi-2021 to meet the water deficit in the Capital.

According to the study, which has information collated from various sources like the Central Ground Water Board, the Central Pollution Control Board and reports from Commissions set up from time to time for the purpose, the Capital is currently facing a shortfall of 577 million gallons per day (MGD). The shortfall would grow to around 579 MGD in 2011 and, in 2021, the shortfall will be around 461 MGD. The study says this shortfall is being covered up by over-withdrawal of ground water, which cannot last long, as a result of which the crisis does not seem imminent.

The figures further indicate that 45 per cent of the Capital's ground water has already become saline and brackish. This is likely to deteriorate further. Also, investing in water treatment plants or recharging the lost sources of water would also not help as the quality of the water would continue to remain bad. Another major concern raised in the study is that the shortfall for 2021 has been calculated considering that the moves proposed by the Delhi Jal Board in the Master Plan would be implemented without fail.

But the study warns that it may not be possible. For instance, the DJB has proposed setting up of a network of tube wells in neighbouring parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh from where water would be supplied to Delhi. However, the suggested areas are already considered "grey" or "dark" zones where the ground water is getting lesser by the day. Also, the DJB proposes construction of Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi dams by 2021 to meet the shortfall. Such construction can take time and by then it may be too late, the study says.

What has also raised concern is the recent studies claiming that the rivers will go dry in the Northern part of India due to global warming.

To cap it all, the study says, neither the DJB nor the Delhi Development Authority have any idea of how much ground water is being used to fill the gap in supply from the DJB. "While this was acknowledged in the draft Master Plan, in the final Plan that part has been deleted," said Diwan Singh of Ridge Bachao Andolan.

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