HT IMPACT: More than six illegal borewells in Gurgaon sealed by CM flying squad

Teams, comprising CID and hydrology department officials, raided sites in Nathupur, Daulatabad, Amar Colony, Shivaji Nagar, Pataudi and Sheetla Colony

The Chief Minister flying squad along with hydrology department, Gurgaon, conducted raids on Tuesday at several areas of the city and sealed more than half a dozen illegal bore wells with a view to cracking down on illegal extraction of groundwater in the city.

The team entered into the premises of the illegal units and put a seal on the borewell so that groundwater cannot be extracted any more. They also disconnected the pipeline linked to the bore well. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

The team, comprising 12 members of Crime investigation department (CID) and four hydrology officials, conducted raids in Nathupur, Daulatabad, Amar Colony, Shivaji Nagar, Pataudi and Sheetla Colony.

The team launched the drive at around 7am on Tuesday that continued till 5 pm. They said that monitoring of the sealed bore wells in the city had been done at regular intervals. The team said that after July 15, the drive will continue more aggressively in Gurgaon.

The details regarding the next raid and the one carried out on Tuesday are not supposed to be disclosed to the public, as it might alert the culprit, said a senior member of the chief minister flying squad.

The team entered into the premises of the illegal units and put a seal on the borewell so that groundwater cannot be extracted any more. They also disconnected the pipeline linked to the borewells.

“We have monitored the borewells that we had sealed last year. They all are intact,” said Surender Nehra, a staff from the hydrology department who was also part of the raid.

Action followed a day after HT reported on the issue of excessive groundwater extraction in the city on Monday. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said at present, the city’s groundwater level is depleting by one-three metres every year.

The officials said that such raids will be conducted from time to time in the city to save groundwater from being extracted illegally. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

The officials said that such raids will be conducted from time to time in the city to save groundwater from being extracted illegally. “We have received several complaints regarding illegal usage of water in the city and we are taking action against people involved in the practice,” Ravinder Yadav, a CID officer who was part of the raiding team, said.

Hydrologists said that though groundwater extraction is not allowed in the city as it was declared ‘dark zone’ by the Central Ground Water Authority in 2008, permission has been granted to operate a few borewells in the area where residents do not access to potable water supplied by the Haryana urban development authority (Huda).

“The permission for digging borewells are only given for drinking water purposes, not for commercial activities,” Vijender Singh Lamba, senior hydrologist, Gurgaon groundwater cell, said.

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According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), till 2016, about 2,300 tube wells in the city were sealed for illegal extraction of groundwater.

At present, groundwater extraction in the city is estimated at 308%, well above the permissible limit of 85% as per CGWB norms.

While there are about 9,140 bore wells officially registered in Gurgaon, at least another 15,000 are being operated without permission, according to the data released by the groundwater cell.