No more 24X7 groundwater supply for parched Delhiites

Residents of multi-storied buildings and owners of farmhouses and hotels in the city could have a tough time in the days ahead.

Residents of multi-storied buildings and owners of farmhouses and hotels in the city could have a tough time in the days ahead.

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Consumption of uninterrupted round-the-clock groundwater will soon be a matter of the past for them.

Concerned about the fast-depleting water table, the department of Environment, Delhi Government has decided to show no mercy to residents who illegally draw groundwater by installing borewells or tubewells.

The department, through a circular issued on May 18, has ordered formation of an advisory committee at each revenue area to check violations and seal illegal wells, seize drilling rigs and permanently disconnect water supply.

Each committee will be headed by a Deputy Commissioner (Revenue).

“After the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) restricted the supply of water, the illegal drawing of groundwater through borewells and tubewells has increased enormously,” said a senior DJB officer.

“It has become a practice with residents of South Delhi, especially those who stay in multi-storied buildings and among owners of hotels and farmhouses to get round-the-clock water by installing tube wells or bore wells,” he added.

“But all such efforts were in vain,” the officer added.

“This order, however, made it clear that proper action will be taken against those who violate the order,” said Ramesh Negi, CEO, DJB.

According to Dharmendra, Secretary (Environment), “In Delhi, no person, group, authority, association or institution shall draw ground water through borewell or tube-well for domestic, commercial, agricultural or industrial use, without prior permission of the DJB or the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).”

Appreciating the steps by the department of Environment, Pankaj Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Delhi RWA’s Joint Front, said, “There is an urgent need to regulate extraction of groundwater, so that people who illegally extract it can be taken to task.”

“At the same time, the department should give need-based permission for groundwater extraction,” added Agarwal.

Down, Down, Down...

Ground water levels down because of: