Huda panel to keep check on water harvesting pits

To check the depleting groundwater level in the Millennium City, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has constituted a special committee.

To check the depleting groundwater level in the Millennium City, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has constituted a special committee.

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The team headed by two superintending engineers (SEs) will visit houses in Gurgaon to check defunct water harvesting pits. To obtain a completion certificate from the town planning department, the owner has to carry implement rainwater harvesting on plots of 200 sq yard and above.

“It has come to our notice that residents do not keep pits in running condition after getting the completion certificate,” said a Huda official, adding that 95% of the pits are defunct.

“The owner can be booked if the rainwater harvesting pit is not found on the premises of houses of 200 sq yard and above. Besides, sewer and water supply will also be disconnected if the harvesting pit is found defunct,” added the official. The official further said that pits need to be filtered every two years.

“The cost of getting a pit filtered is R7,000-R10,000. It would also help recharge the water table,” said Darshan Singh, director of the NGO, Surge.

“Every year, the water table depletes by 1.2 metre,” he added.

He has asked superintending engineers to complete the survey at the earliest. Meanwhile, Huda has floated a contract to construct nearly 317 pits in open areas such as parks, green belts, and shopping centres.