Appu Ghar water row: Huda claims it provides adequate water to residents

Last Monday, the NGT heard a petition filed by a city-based social activist, Harinder Dhingra, that Huda supplies 8 lakh litres of water daily to Appu Ghar in peak summer when the city reels under water shortage

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) told National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday that it supplies adequate water to areas around Appu Ghar, a water park in Sector 29, and there are no complaints from residents in this regard.

NGT took a “strong note” of the petition and asked Huda to produce details of water supply to Appu Ghar and adjoining residential areas. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Last Monday, the NGT heard a petition filed by a city-based social activist, Harinder Dhingra, that Huda supplies 8 lakh litres of water daily to Appu Ghar in peak summer when the city reels under water shortage, and subsequently leads to protest across the city.

NGT took a “strong note” of the petition and asked Huda to produce details of water supply to Appu Ghar and adjoining residential areas.

Dhingra said the NGT was unhappy with Huda’s response, as it had filed an incomplete reply on water supply details of residential areas around Appu Ghar.

The areas around Appu Ghar area Sushant Lok, South City-I, Ardee City, Sector 45 and DLF 4.

“This is a wrong affidavit and the court fixed the next date on November 10. The court asked Huda to counter our claims with facts but Huda officials said they were not prepared for the argument and sought more time,” said Dhingra.

SS Rai, a resident of Sushant Lok, said, “Huda’s claim of adequate water supply is a blatant lie as we are fully dependent on private suppliers every summer for water as taps and tanks run dry. This is a perennial issue and we go through this each summer.”

“Huda has failed to improve water supply as per the requirement of the areas. We spend large sums to purchase water from private tankers in summer and this is an open secret,’ said Mukesh Sharma, a resident of South City-1.

Box:

30 lakh is city’s approximate population

75-80 million gallons per day (MGD) of water supplied by Huda against requirement 150 MGD, a deficit of 70 MGD

70 MGD deficit is met with groundwater extraction through borewells

As per Huda estimate, about 250 MGD water will be required by 2021 to feed an expected population of 45 lakh

Majority of privately developed townships meet their water demand through borewells