The Hindu : New Delhi News : Precious water going down the drain on Delhi Ridge

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Precious water going down the drain on Delhi Ridge

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Photo: V.V.Krishnan

Untapped: The unsung water body on the Delhi Ridge in the Delhi University area. (Right) Its potable water going waste.

Photo: V.V.Krishnan

Untapped: The unsung water body on the Delhi Ridge in the Delhi University area. (Right) Its potable water going waste.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government, which goes the whole hog to relay water conservation messages to the masses, has not been able to walk the talk. The Government that insists on saving every drop has been oblivious to constant wastage of water that has been flowing from an unknown source on the Ridge near Malka Ganj in North Delhi.

Even as local residents have been aware of the rather exotic water body that seeps from under a fissure for the past several years, for the Government and its various agencies the presence of this water body seems to be a revelation.

“We have been trying to get the Government’s attention to save this water from getting wasted. As of now the unused water goes into a nearby sewer, which is shameful considering how the area is faced with a shortfall of the precious utility,” says Ashok Bhasin, president of the North Delhi Residents’ Welfare Federation.

Residents from nearby areas have been using the water that collects into a small man-made pond known as “Shiv Kund” for washing and drinking purposes.

“We use this water for drinking. It is warm in winters and cool and clear during summers. The water is also said to have medicinal properties,” Mr. Bhasin adds.

The Delhi Jal Board’s quality control laboratory that ran tests on the water sample has given it a clean chit. In its report, the laboratory mentioned that while the water has been found bacteria-logically “unsatisfactory”, the sample conforms to IS-10500-1993 and “can be considered fit for drinking purpose after proper disinfection”.

The Jal Board, however, is at a loss when it comes to explaining the source of the water body. A senior official of the water utility said: “We are not aware of the source of the water. But we will shortly investigate.”

Jal Board officials also say that the assumption that about 3,000 litres of water a day gets collected in the Shiv Kund could be incorrect.

“It could be water that has been escaping from one of our underground reservoirs, and unless we ascertain its source and quantum, it will be incorrect to make assumptions,” said one official.

Weary of the slackness shown by the government agencies in tapping the water, local residents are now gearing up to push for a meaningful use of this water. “We have been running from pillar to post. If the Delhi Development Authority under whose jurisdiction the land falls gives us the no objection certificate, we will raise the money to utilise this water,” said Mr. Bhasin.

Residents’ demand

“We want the Delhi Jal Board to put a pipeline and connect this source of water to a tank from where it can be used for drinking purposes. A part of this water can also be used to replenish and revive two other water bodies that are in close proximity to this source. These water bodies which attract exotic birds have been neglected over the years,” he added.

Incidentally, the portion of the Ridge where these water bodies are located has been cleared of debris by the residents recently.

“Using the ‘My Delhi I Care Fund’, we managed to clean the place and convince the Chief Minister to come and initiate a plantation drive here. The area can be turned into a green patch with some effort, and the residents are ready to take the responsibility for it. All we need is the requisite go-ahead from the DDA and the Government,” Mr. Bhasin added.

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